Northwestern University School of Law announced plans last week to offer students the opportunity to finish law school in two years instead of the traditional three. The new program has postured itself as an unprecedented alternative to other top-tier law schools.
With classes scheduled to begin in 2009, Northwestern Law will be the first and only top-tier law school to offer an accelerated JD program in addition to the already established three-year program. The new plan, known as Plan 2008, will require the same number of credits as the regular program, but in a compressed five-semester span. Not only will this eliminate the third year that many students complain can be repetitive, but it will also add components that teach business and practical knowledge, hoping that lawyers will better understand their clients.
"The idea is to provide these students with a skill set above the traditional legal analysis," said David Van Zandt, dean of Northwestern's law school. "This is just one more way that our graduates can be better prepared for the real world out there where you have to know a lot more than just law."
The plan requires students to enroll in two new courses, one covering quantitative analysis such as accounting, finance, and statistics, and the other focusing on social networking and teamwork. A third required, but already existing, class teaches strategic decision-making and how to understand strategies pursued by their clients and organizations.
Van Zandt explained that because this program will be competitive, they plan on accepting no more than 40 applicants each year, and a minimum of two years of post-graduate, full-time work experience is a must.
The initiative has drawn some criticism from the administration of other law schools, claiming that such a drastic change will hurt the quality of education. But the faculty and students at Northwestern are generally supportive, suggesting the new program may offer an alternative to law students eager to begin their careers.
2008 Woodie Awards
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Fred
posted 7/08/08 @ 4:10 PM CST
That headline is very misleading.
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