Study: Legal employers exclude talented law students by focusing on first-year grades
ABA JOURNAL — Selective opportunities for law students, including law review membership, judicial clerkships and large law firm association positions, are largely based on first-year grades. And the tradition leaves out many “exceptional students,” according to a working paper that studied classes between 1979 and 2019 at a top 20 law school.
Read More about Study: Legal employers exclude talented law students by focusing on first-year gradesCUNY Law dean Mary Lu Bilek retires after offensive racial comment
ABA JOURNAL — A law dean has revealed that her retirement announcement was precipitated by her reference to herself as a “slaveholder.” Dean Mary Lu Bilek of the City University of New York School of Law told the community that she made the remark to place blame on herself for racial inequities at the school.
Read More about CUNY Law dean Mary Lu Bilek retires after offensive racial commentDuke Law professor Kelli Raker honored by ABA Law Practice Division
DUKE LAW — Kelli Raker, coordinator of the Entrepreneurial Law Program and managing director of the Duke Law Tech Lab, was named to the seventh annual “Women of Legal Tech” list by the Legal Technology Resource Center, part of the American Bar Association’s Law Practice Division.
Read More about Duke Law professor Kelli Raker honored by ABA Law Practice DivisionFordham Law Dispute Resolution Society team wins regional ABA mediation competition
FORDHAM LAW NEWS — Fordham Law’s Dispute Resolution Society (DRS) took first place at the 2021 American Bar Association (ABA) Representation in Mediation Regional Competition, hosted by Cardozo School of Law over Zoom. The two-day competition, held on Feb. 28 and March 1, included 10 teams from law schools across the country.
Read More about Fordham Law Dispute Resolution Society team wins regional ABA mediation competitionLaw firms launch new programs to address racial injustice
ABA JOURNAL — The aim of the study was to find out how COVID-19, civil unrest and the economic crisis affected law firms’ efforts to address professional development and diversity, equity and inclusion, according to a press release summarizing the findings. The study was conducted by the NALP Foundation and the National Business Institute.
Read More about Law firms launch new programs to address racial injusticeUSC Gould Law to require course on race, racism, and the law for law students
ABA JOURNAL — Stephen M. Rich was asked in January to teach the first required course on race, racism and the law at University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law, and he happily accepted the task. He recognizes that the student makeup of the course may be different than it would be for an elective.
Read More about USC Gould Law to require course on race, racism, and the law for law studentsLewis & Clark Law professor Sarah Lora leads ABA effort to improve tax forms for low-income taxpayers
LEWIS & CLARK LAW SCHOOL — The ABA Section of Taxation submitted comments drafted by clinical professor Sarah Lora, Director of the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, to the Internal Revenue Service in February. The comments specifically address recent changes to Form W-7 which makes it more difficult for many taxpayers to file income tax returns.
Read More about Lewis & Clark Law professor Sarah Lora leads ABA effort to improve tax forms for low-income taxpayersExperts warn pandemic stress may lead to unethical behaviors and practice
ABA JOURNAL — Mental health and lawyer ethics experts are warning that financial stress and isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may push lawyers to act imprudently or unethically. Law.com spoke with several experts who feared that lawyers could be tempted to dip into client funds in their lawyer trust account.
Read More about Experts warn pandemic stress may lead to unethical behaviors and practiceLaw firm attorneys report long hours and burnout
ABA JOURNAL — Burnout and long hours appear to be making life miserable for the most dissatisfied lawyers. Lawyers work an average of 53 hours per week, according to a Bloomberg Law survey of 1,554 law firm and in-house lawyers. The 6% of lawyers reporting the lowest job satisfaction work even longer hours, Bloomberg Law reports.
Read More about Law firm attorneys report long hours and burnoutLaw schools see spike in applicants for fall 2021
ABA JOURNAL — Securing a spot at a top law school could become more difficult this year, as more people with high scores on the Law School Admission Test are submitting applications. Law.com reports on the latest numbers and offers possible reasons for the increase in scores and applicants.
Read More about Law schools see spike in applicants for fall 2021