Cleveland Law Library Weblog

President Obama Thinks Law School Should Only Last 2 Years, With a Third Year for a Clerkship with a Judge or Law Firm

As part of a recent bus trip to promote his proposals for lowering the costs of higher education, President Obama has suggested that law school should only last 2 years. He recommends that a third year could be devoted to a practical experience in a clerkship with a Judge or law firm. An article from the NYTimes summarized President Obama's goal of reducing costs for students while they gain real-life, work experience. The ABA is also suggesting significant changes to law school to make the experience more practical as well.

No Surprise, Summer Associate Hiring Was Down This Summer

A recent survey conducted by the American Lawyer shows that summer associate hiring was down 3.4% this summer. However, there was a wide disparity in reporting by firms that participated in the survey. For instance, one firm's hiring was up 92.3%, while another firm's hiring was down 45.6%.  Skadden Arps hired the largest class of summers at 190 law students, and 2 other firms tied for second by hiring 149 summer associates. For more information on this study, read a recent article from the AmLaw Daily.

CWRU Law School Professor Offers Free, Online, 8-Week Class on Introduction to International Criminal law

According to cleveland.com, CWRU Law School Professor Michael Scharf began teaching a free, online, 8-week class called Introduction to International Criminal Law today, May 1st. At least 17,500 signed up to participate in this venture, which is called a MOCC, or a Massive Open Online Course. Ever since Stanford invented the concept in 2011, MOCCs are apparently taking hold in academic environments across the United States. For his class, Professor Scharf "adapted a course he teaches at CWRU by adding videos, photos and pop-up quizzes. People will post assignments, such as writing a judicial opinion, and others can comment. He will monitor the chat room and participate when possible. The quizzes and final will graded by computer."  Like other MOCCs, Professor Scharf's class cannot be taken for credit. The Cleveland Law Library wishes him well with this amazing initiative.

Two Law Schools are Offering Limited Refunds

According to law.com, two law schools are offering money-back guarantees to law students. Charlotte School of Law is offering law student graduates $10,000.00 if they do not pass the bar after two tries. In addition, "Florida Coastal School of Law is offering the same refund to students dismissed for academic reasons following their 1L year, plus $2,000 to those who fail to secure a externship, clerkship, clinical experiences or other substantive legal work while in school."   Naturally, there are limitations under the law schools' "Assured Outcomes Partnerships," as described in the article.

The Law Library Welcomes a New Extern

The Cuyahoga County Law Library/ Cleveland Law Library has a new extern named Nathan Genovese. He is a student at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and will be graduating at in May.  He has a  B.A. in Communication, has a paralegal certificate from Boston University, and hopes to start at the Kent State School of Library and Information Science Program in the Fall.  

Nathan has enjoyed his work at the Law Library. His duties have included, helping patrons locate library materials, suggesting changes to the Library's collection of Internet Legal Websites, and assisting with reference inquiries by telephone.

Women Now Hold 33.4% of the Legal Jobs in the Country as Lawyers, Judges, Magistrates and Other Judicial Workers, But They Are Still Paid Less, and Many Are Leaving the Profession

According to the latest 2010 census figures, women now hold 33.4% of the legal jobs in the country as lawyers, judges, magistrates and other judicial workers. These stats are encouraging compared to the 2000 and 1970 figures of 29.2% and 4.9%, respectively. However, the Wall Street Journal reports that there are still disparities between what men and women in the legal field are paid, which the article indicates may be due to individual choices, discrimination or other unknown facors. In addition, although as many women as men are graduating from law schools, many women are apparently leaving the profession for jobs that offer greater flexibility in hours and location. Another discrepancy to which the article refers occurs in law firm management:

"While women have made strides in the legal profession, at law firms few are taking management positions. Some leave for jobs as counsel to corporations, where hours can be more predictable. At large law firms, women make up just 15% of equity partners, according to a survey released in October by the National Association of Women Lawyers. Of the 200 firms surveyed, just 4% had a woman at the helm in the role of firm-wide managing partner."

CSU Law School to Launch a Solo Incubator by the Time the Class of 2013 Passes the Bar Exam

Copying a model already in place at CUNY, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law has announced plans to create a $1.2 million dollar solo practice incubator inside unused space at the C-M law library. The project will construct a reception area and 15 offices that new graduates can rent to help them launch their law practices. An article from the National Law Journal indicates that privileges will include access to the C-M law library for between 18-24 months. The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association will also provide mentors to help the new lawyers succeed.

Famous Trial Advocacy Educator James McElhaney Retires

Those of you who went to Case Western Law School or attended law school anywhere in the United States may remember James McElhaney. McElhaney is nationally known for teaching trial advocacy, writing for both the ABA Journal and Litigation, authoring McElhaney's Trial Notebook and other books, and producing several trial advocacy cassettes the Law Library is proud to own. The August 2012 issue of the ABA Journal profiles Mr. McElhaney upon his retirement from teaching and writing.

Yale Law School is Starting a new Degree: Ph.D. in Law with Courses Beginning in September 2013

Yale Law School is starting a brand new degree called a Ph.D. in Law. This degree will be the first of its kind in the United States and will offer lawyers with JDs who want to enter academia the opportunity to focus on legal scholarship for another three (3) years. According to Yale's web site:

"This program will offer young scholars an opportunity to contribute to the development of law as an academic field, and it will provide an alternate path into law teaching alongside existing routes such as fellowships, advanced degrees in cognate fields, and transitioning directly from practice or clerkships."

Applications are already being accepted, and classes will begin in September of 2013.

For more information, read Yale's press release or Yale's report/study on the new degree.

NALP Study Reports Reduced Salaries for 2011 Law School Grads and Private Practitioners

According to NALP (The Association for Legal Career Professionals), "[t]he median starting salary for new law school graduates from the Class of 2011 fell 5% from that for 2010 and has fallen nearly 17% just since 2009. The mean salary fell 6.5% compared with 2010, and since 2009 the mean has plunged almost 16% according to new research...The research also reveals that the median starting private practice salary fell over 18% from 2010 and since 2009 has fallen an astonishing 35%." More information on this huge downward trend can be found in NALP's extensive press release, which includes a chart showing mean (average) and median (middle) salaries for individuals and firm attorneys. Although the numbers are down a lot, the mean starting salary is $78,653, and the mean firm salary is $97,821. Comparable median figures are $60,000 and $85,000 respectively.