What They Don’t Teach Law Students: Lawyering
Laura Pedrick for The New York Times
Drinker Biddle & Reath, a Philadelphia firm, trains its new associates to be lawyers. Here, Matthew McDonald, a partner, passes out instructions.
By DAVID SEGAL
Published: November 19, 2011
Josh Anderson for The New York Times
Updating is needed, says Edward Rubin, ex-dean of Vanderbilt Law.
A Possible New Curriculum
What do corporate clients wish associates were taught in law school?- A better understanding of modern litigation practice, which is about gathering facts and knowing how to settle a case.
- Greater familiarity with transactions law, including how to draft, evaluate and challenge a contract.
- Deeper knowledge of regulatory law and the ability to respond to a regulatory inquiry or enforcement action.
- Basic corporate legal skills, like how to perform due diligence.
- Writing skills. Partners at law firms say they spend a lot of time improving the writing of their first- and second-year associates.
- A stronger grasp of the evolving economics of legal practice, which will rely less on leveraging the time of new associates and more on entrepreneurship.
