Law Schools

Trials and tiaras: How do pageant winners fare as lawyers?

What are two activities where success comes from reading a room, speaking with authority and not appearing nervous, even if you are? Trying cases in court and also beauty pageants.

Apr 27, 2020 3:20 PM CDT

First state plans for online bar exam if in-person test is not possible

If the novel coronavirus pandemic prevents a bar exam from being safely administered in person, the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners will offer an online test, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court announced Thursday.

Apr 24, 2020 9:43 AM CDT

Are we entering a new era of legal education during the novel coronavirus crisis?

Ari Kaplan recently spoke with Lutz-Christian Wolff, Stephen Gallagher and Joyce Wong—the dean, associate dean for teaching and learning and the faculty secretary, respectively—of the Chinese University of Hong Kong's law faculty, about the COVID-19 pandemic and a potentially new era of legal education.

Apr 24, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Congress asked for COVID-19 lawsuit curbs; law school cuts pay for staff and faculty

Lobbyists seek COVID-19 lawsuit curbs Lobbying groups for U.S. businesses are asking Congress to curb liability for companies that could face lawsuits in connection with COVID-19. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is suggesting safe harbor from privacy laws for employers who inquire about health status, safe harbor from age and…

Apr 21, 2020 4:09 PM CDT

Average multistate bar exam score drops to new low, raising concerns about bar pass rates

The average scaled score for the multistate bar exam dropped to a new low of 132.6 for February test-takers, raising concerns that bar pass rates will also drop.

Apr 21, 2020 11:21 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Public defender group bypasses judge; top state court upholds COVID-19 business shutdown

Public defender group bypasses judge who rejected all release bids The Defender Association of Philadelphia has withdrawn all its petitions for inmate release before Judge Anne Marie Coyle, after she rejected every detainee’s request over a two-day period. Coyle even increased bail for four inmates during the release hearings and…

Apr 16, 2020 4:33 PM CDT

Boston law school leads initiative to develop mobile court forms during pandemic crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has limited access to courts across the country, including in Massachusetts.

Apr 9, 2020 3:40 PM CDT

Legal community has mixed reactions to ABA resolution on limited law practice for recent grads

As law students worry about what the coronavirus pandemic will mean for their careers, some lawyers say those concerns should be eased by a Tuesday ABA resolution urging states to adopt emergency rules authorizing supervised limited practice for recent graduates, along with a bar pass requirement of no later than December 2021.

Apr 8, 2020 3:57 PM CDT

A remote LSAT is scheduled for May because of coronavirus

Because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, a remotely proctored version of the LSAT, which can be taken at home, will be offered in May, the Law School Admission Council announced Tuesday.

Apr 8, 2020 9:55 AM CDT

ABA Board of Governors backs limited practice for recent law school grads as they await bar exam

The board is urging states to adopt emergency rules authorizing limited practice with lawyer supervision for recent graduates if the coronavirus pandemic causes cancellations of July bar exams.

Apr 7, 2020 7:00 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Amazon GC’s leaked notes may lead to lawsuit; ABA legal ed section’s council seeks ideas

Amazon GC badmouthed protest organizer in leaked notes Amazon general counsel David Zapolsky badmouthed fired warehouse employee and protest organizer Christian Smalls, according to internal notes of a meeting leaked to Vice News. Zapolsky wrote in his meeting notes that Smalls is “not smart, or articulate, and to the extent…

Apr 7, 2020 4:52 PM CDT

NCBE announces more bar exam dates, and 1 state has allowed supervised practice; will more follow?

While law students advocate for diploma privilege, and a growing number of deans are asking state supreme courts to consider supervised practice for 2020 graduates, the National Conference of Bar Examiners plans to proceed with administering the bar exam.

Apr 6, 2020 3:43 PM CDT

NYU Law Review wins dismissal of suit challenging its racial and gender preferences

The New York University Law Review has won dismissal of a suit challenging preferences given to women and minorities in selection of members and choice of articles.

Apr 2, 2020 10:09 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Athletes aim for law school; lawsuits target Zoom over Facebook sharing

Pro basketball players shoot for law school Imani McGee-Stafford, a center with the Dallas Wings, is leaving the basketball court and headed to the Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. McGee-Stafford, who is 25, also played for the Chicago Sky and the Atlanta Dream. Meanwhile Garrett Temple, a guard with…

Apr 1, 2020 4:55 PM CDT

New York bar exam planned for September; Hawaii postpones exam, too

The New York Court of Appeals announced Tuesday that the bar exam will take place shortly before or after the Labor Day holiday. Also, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore is looking into supervised practice for law school graduates.

Apr 1, 2020 9:38 AM CDT