legal education topic

Current Issues in Legal Education

Exploring how changes to the first-year law school curriculum could benefit students.

Law School Curriculum: Reform, Assessment, and Research Design  

David A. Hyman( Georgetown Law), Jing Liu (East China University Law), and Joshua C. Teitelbaum (Georgetown Law) discuss how changes to the first-year law school curriculum could positively impact law students. The authors evaluate Georgetown Law’s curriculum B as an alternative to the traditional first-year course load.

Reviewing Diverse Approaches To Student Success

Investing in Academic Success: Diverse Approaches – a Blog Post by Prof. Charles Calleros (ASU)  

Professor Calleros (Arizona State University Law) discusses several different approaches in the design of academic success programs in law schools across the United States and abroad. The author provides analysis on what makes each program successful in improving outcomes for students.  

Addressing the Access To Justice Crisis Through Legal Education  

What The Access To Justice Crisis Means For Legal Education  

Kathryne M. Young (George Washington Law) describes the access to justice crisis in the United States as a deficit of just resolutions to civil justice problems for everyday people. The author argues that this crisis compels an examination of the scope and purpose of legal education and provides a framework for how law schools can address access to justice issues effectively.  

P ublished in UC Irvine Law Review (Vol. 11, No. 3) in 2021.

Law Profession as an Antiracist teaching institution

What’s (Race In) The Law Got To Do With It: Incorporating Race In Legal Curriculum  

Sonia Gipson Rankin (University of New Mexico Law) explains how to incorporate conversations about race within legal education. The essay describes cognitive dissonance theory, color blindness ideology, and its relationship to racial inequality, while providing classroom techniques that encourage dialogue related to conversations on equity and race. The author also includes classroom strategies to help professors’ awareness of equity in the legal profession and in the justice system.  

Published in Connecticut Law Review (Vol. 54, No. 4) in July 2022.   

Pushing Back on Attempts to Ban Critical Race Theory

This Is Not A Drill: The War Against Antiracist Teaching in America  

Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw (UCLA Law and Columbia Law), in her modified acceptance speech for the 2021 AALS Triennial Award for Lifetime Service to Legal Education and the Legal Profession, reflects on her career and the recent challenges to teaching antiracist and social justice education that is now unfolding. The speech argues that the legal academy bears a collective responsibility to fight back against the silencing of antiracist frameworks, and calls on law schools to confront their historical agnosticism toward racial subordination and to defend the freedom to teach and learn Critical Race Theory against concerted efforts to undo its legacy.

Published in the UCLA Law Review (Vol. 68) in 2022.  

Reimagining Legal Education with focus on student wellness  

Wellness And Law: Reforming Legal Education To Support Student Wellness  

Janet Thompson Jackson (Washburn Law) details how law schools can shape curricula to benefit student wellness. The article argues that many students do not have to feel that their mental health and overall well-being will be significantly compromised during law school. The article provides a blueprint to reimagine legal education with a focus on wellness.  

Originally published in Howard Law Journal (Vol. 65, No. 1) in 2021  

History of Law School Clinics  

California Legal History Journal on Legal Clinics and Experiential Learning  

Professor Baker (Pepperdine Law) shares an excerpt from the most recent Journal of the California Supreme Court Historical Society which has been dedicated to experiential and clinical legal education.    

Published in California Legal History (Vol. 17) in 2022  

Preparing law students to be civic leaders  

Building the Next Generation of Rule of Law Leaders   William Hubbard (Dean, University of South Carolina Law) describes the challenges that the United States faces regarding adherence to the rule of law despite seeing modest improvement in its score in the 2022 Rule of Law Index published annually by the World Justice Project (WJP). This opinion piece describes some specific issue that law schools should address as the country navigates challenges to the rule of law.  

Teaching students to look for the absence of diverse perspectives in law  

Meditations On Teaching What Isn’t Kris Franklin (New York Law School) explores the teaching students to look for what is absent as a form of logical thinking. The article surveys a wide array of examples in various core legal subjects that point to the omission of diverse perspectives. The article provides law faculty and students with examples of ways to make more visible that which is currently not seen.  

Published in New York Law School Law Review (Vol. 66, No. 387) in June 2022 .

Best Practices for Teaching and Learning in Legal Education

Fifty Ways to Promote Teaching and Learning Gerald Hess, Professor Emeritus of Law at Gonzaga University School of Law, Michael Hunter Schwartz, Dean and Professor of Law at University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law, and Nancy Levit, Curators’ and Edward D. Ellison Professor of Law at University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, focus on the efforts law schools and professors can make to improve instruction and student learning in the classroom. This article builds upon James Lindgren’s seminal article, “Fifty Ways to Promote Scholarship” (1999), which detailed numerous ideas for improving scholarship and the intellectual life of a law school.

Originally published in the Journal of Legal Education (Vol. 67, Issue 3) in December 2018.

Empirical Research in Clinical Legal Education

Measuring Law School Clinics The four authors—Colleen Shanahan (Columbia Law), Jeffrey Selbin (UC Berkeley Law), Alyx Mark (Wesleyan University/American Bar Foundation), and Anna Carpenter (University of Utah Law)—report findings from a large dataset of legal cases that shed some light on the teaching-service promise of law school clinics. After analyzing thousands of unemployment insurance cases involving different types of representation, their findings revealed that clinical law students behave very similarly to practicing attorneys in their use of legal procedures and that clients also experience very similar case outcomes to clients of practicing attorneys. These findings are consistent with claims that law school clinics help prepare students to be practicing lawyers and to serve low-income clients as well as lawyers do.

The Evolving Role of the Associate Dean of Experiential Education

Exploring the Meaning of Experiential Deaning This article explores the role associate deans of experiential education play in the changing landscape of legal education. Five authors—Margaret Martin Barry (Vermont Law) Robert Dinerstein (American University Washington College of Law), Phyllis Goldfarb (George Washington Law), Peggy Maisel (Boston University Law), and Linda Morton (California Western Law)—convened in Vermont to discuss the nature of their positions as associate deans of experiential education at their law schools. Survey findings indicate that the structure, content, and authority of this role is under-developed. The authors make recommendations on how law schools can carve out the role intentionally and provide institutional support to increase the efficacy of the position.

Originally published in the Journal of Legal Education (Vol. 67, Issue 3) in October 2018.

The Value of Local Legal Scholarship

Days of Future Past: A Plea for More Useful and More Local Legal Scholarship Frank Bowman III, Floyd R. Gibson Missouri Endowed Professor of Law at University of Missouri School of Law, describes how the population explosion in American law schools during the 1990s and the simultaneous rise of the influence of U.S. News rankings created a bubble in legal scholarship. Bowman makes several recommendations for dealing with a ‘post-bubble’ landscape, including changing law school hiring practices to favor professors with more legal experience, assessing scholarship more by effect and less by placement, and devoting more scholarly attention to questions of state law and practice.

The Future of Legal Education

An Invitation Regarding Law and Legal Education, and Imagining the Future Michael J. Madison, Director of the Institute for Cyber Law, Policy, and Security and Faculty Director of the Innovation Practice Institute at University of Pittsburgh School of Law, explores conversations about the future of legal education in ways that integrate several threads of concern and revision that have emerged over the last decade. Madison argues these conversations should include participants beyond elite American law schools and private law firms.

Leadership Development in Legal Education

Law School Leadership and Leadership Development for Developing Lawyers Louis D. Bilionis, Dean Emeritus and Droege Professor of Law at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, argues the conditions for successful leadership are present in law schools. The necessary leaders are in place and include faculty and staff who are adopting innovations to help advance students’ development as professionals. The authors refer to these select few as a “coalition of the willing” – opinion leaders with the greatest potential sway on those colleagues who have yet to adopt.

Originally published in the Santa Clara Law Review (Vol 58, Issue 3) in 2019.

Measuring the Impact of Legal Scholarship

Measuring Scholarly Impact: A Guide for Law School Administrators and Legal Scholars Gary Lucas, Jr., Professor of Law and Senior Associate Dean at Texas A&M University School of Law, provides guidance for law deans and legal scholars interested in measuring the impact of legal scholarship. Lucas recommends that each law school create a Google Scholar profile for its faculty. By acting on this recommendation, administrators would dramatically improve their ability to assess the impact of legal scholarship.

Originally published in the University of Pennsylvania Law Review (165) in 2017.

Taking Externship Scholarship to the Next Level

The Past and Future of Externship Scholarship Harriet Katz, Clinical Professor Emerita of Law at Rutgers University School of Law, Camden, offers an overview of scholarship about legal externship produced over the past three decades, along with suggestions for the direction of future work.

Matching Law Practice and Legal Education

The Contextual Problem of Law Schools Eli Ward, Charles W. Delaney Jr. Professor of Law at University of Denver Sturm College of Law, argues there is a mismatch between law practice and legal education. Ward provides recommendations in which law schools can systematically implement contextual insights into their curriculum and culture.

Enhancing Student Learning

Cracking Student Silos: Linking Legal Writing and Clinical Learning Through Transference Mary Bowman, Director of the Legal Writing Program and Associate Professor of Law at Seattle University School of Law, and Lisa Brodoff, Director of the Ronald Peterson Law Clinic and Associate Professor of Law at Seattle University School of Law, studied the educational literature on transference to understand how they could help their students apply what is taught in their programs to future client work. Both authors describe what they learned from their endeavors and the typical barriers to transference, most significantly the effects of course-dependent siloing of student learning.

Legal Education Reconsidered

James P. White Lecture on Legal Education During the James P. White Lecture on Legal Education at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, AALS Executive Director Judith Areen discussed how legal education has been “reconsidered” by prospective students as the result of a challenging job market and negative media coverage. The lecture was published in the Indiana Law Review.

“Working together, deans and faculty, schools and organizations, we need not fear what will happen as others reconsider legal education,” Areen said. “Together we should be able to regain the confidence of qualified college students and graduates that law school is a good choice for someone who wants to make a difference during their professional career both in service to others, and in addressing some of the most intractable problems that face our communities, nation, and the world.”

The Market for Law Schools and their Graduates

The Demand for Legal Education: The Long View Deborah M. Hussey Freeland, Research Fellow at the Stanford Center on the Legal Profession, examines available data on the total number of law school applicants, including long-term economic and demographic trends in the demand for legal education.

Originally published in the Journal of Legal Education (Vol. 65, Issue 1) in August 2015.

Practice-Based Learning

Practice in the Academy: Creating “Practice Aware” Law Graduates Jay Gary Finkelstein, corporate transactional Partner at DLA Piper LLP (U.S.), presents two practical solutions that will enhance traditional doctrinal courses, such as hiring practitioners to work with full-time faculty to develop practice-based curriculum offerings and providing interactive pedagogy that replicates the practice of law. Finkelstein serves on the adjunct law school faculties of at Stanford, Berkeley, Georgetown and Penn.

Originally published in the Journal of Legal Education (Vol. 64, Issue 4) in May 2015.

Learning Technologies in Legal Education

Law Schools and Technology: Where We Are and Where We Are Heading Michele Pistone, Professor of Law at Villanova University School of Law, analyzes the conditions and trends that encourage greater use of learning technologies in legal education.

Originally published in the Journal of Legal Education (Vol. 64, Issue 4) in May 2015 .

Support of Legal Services Corporation

AALS Letter in Support of Funding the Legal Services Corporation Access to justice is at the core of our constitutional society. As Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell once wrote, “Equal justice under law is not merely a caption on the facade of the Supreme Court building; it is perhaps the most inspiring ideal of our society.”

Today’s Justice System and The Supreme Court

The Open Mind: Equal and Unequal Justice Harvard Law School Dean Martha Minow provides insight into the American justice system and legal education on PBS’ The Open Mind . During the discussion, she discusses race relations in the U.S., the need to support access to justice initiatives, and the role technology can play toward the pursuit of equal justice.

Supreme Court of the United States Decision on Fisher v. The University of Texas at Austin

Supreme Court of the United States Decision on Fisher v. The University of Texas at Austin The Supreme Court of the United States ruled (4-3) in Fisher v. The University of Texas at Austin (Fisher II) that the University of Texas’ use of race as a consideration in the admissions process does not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

From Law Review to Common Sense

In Praise of Law Reviews (and Jargon-Filled, Academic Writing) Cass R. Sunstein, Harvard Law School professor and former administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, outlines the value of law review articles, not just to academia or the legal profession, but to society as a whole. Though law review articles are often criticized as “jargon-filled” or “too-specialized,” he argues that many ideas constructed by legal scholars have made a significant impact, leading to what is now accepted as common sense by the public.

Statement from AALS Section on Clinical Legal Education on Proposed California Bar Admission Changes

Statement on the California Task Force on Admissions Regulation Recommendations (TFARR) The Association of American Law Schools’ Section on Clinical Legal Education has issued a statement on the proposal by the Task Force on Admissions Regulation Recommendations (TFARR) of the State Bar of California to change the requirements for taking the California Bar Examination.

Statement from AALS Deans Steering Committee on Proposed California Bar Admission Changes

Statement on the California Task Force on Admissions Regulation Recommendations (TFARR) The Steering Committee of the Association of American Law Schools’ Deans Forum has issued a statement on the proposal by the Task Force on Admissions Regulation Recommendations (TFARR) of the State Bar of California to change the requirements for taking the California Bar Examination.

Modern Legal Education and Law School Leadership

Law Schools and the Changing Environment of the Legal Profession In a conversation with University of California Television, Daniel B. Rodriguez, 2014 AALS President and Dean, Northwestern University School of Law, discusses changes and innovations happening with American legal education and in the legal profession. He discusses the challenges that law schools face today and working with various constituency groups including alumni, state bar associations, and law firm leadership. In addition, Dean Rodriguez discusses refining the law school curriculum, cross-campus initiatives and engaging alumni throughout their careers.

Linking Law Schools and U.S. Domestic Policy Needs

How can law schools help address society’s greatest needs? Peter B. Edelman, Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Law and Public Policy at Georgetown University Law Center, talks about the public policy choices that have been made regarding poverty, unemployment, race, immigration and gender issues in the United States and discusses the role law school clinics can play in addressing some of the country’s most pressing matters.

Professor Edelman’s talk served as the Keynote Address for the AALS Conference on Clinical Legal Education – Leading the New Normal: Clinical Education at the Forefront of Change for the sessions on May 5, 2015 in Rancho Mirage, California.

Black Lawyers Matter

Why the U.S. needs black lawyers even more than it needs black police In this opinion article for The Guardian , Yolanda Young, lawyer and founder of the website “On Being a Black Lawyer,” examines the importance of African Americans in the bar and the impact the lack of Black lawyers is having on the U.S. justice system.

Studies Point to an Improving Legal Industry in Key Areas

Law Schools and Industry Show Signs of Life, Despite Forecasts of Doom In this New York Times piece, Steven Davidoff Solomon, professor of law at University of California, Berkeley, looks at the structural changes in legal education and the legal industry. He notes that recent studies have pointed to signs of optimism in the profession and the overall need for skilled lawyers is unlikely to change over time.

The Value of a Legal Education

Statement on the Value of a Legal Education This statement was developed by the Deans Steering Committee of the Association of American Law Schools and concerns the critical role legal education plays in civil society and its progress. It is offered as a resource and, where appropriate, as a point of discussion to those interested in legal education.

Investing in a Legal Education

Financing a Legal Education

It pays for students who borrow to finance their legal education to familiarize themselves with all the tools available to manage debt, including a wide variety of repayment plans and loan forgiveness programs. The standard repayment period is 10 years but that may be extended. Some payments are tied to borrowers’ income and may be reduced for hardship cases, but not all types of loans are eligible for forgiveness and extensions.

History and Experiences of Women in Legal Education

Looking back at the challenges that women faced in joining the legal academy and profession in the mid-20th century Professor Marina Angel, Temple Temple University Beasley School of Law interviews U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg for the AALS Section on Women in Legal Education’s Oral History Project.

Review of After the JD III , A Law Professor’s Take

After the JD III Reviewed D. Benjamin Barros, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law at Widener University Law School-Harrisburg, provides his thoughts on the findings in After the JD III: Third Results from a National Study of Legal Careers by The American Bar Foundation and the NALP Foundation for Law Career Research and Education.

From Theory to Practice

Theory Makes Successful Lawyering Possible In this New York  Law Journal column, Jeremy Paul, Dean of Northeastern University School of Law, highlights how the legal theory learned in law school, is crucial to success in practicing law.

Originally published in the New York Law Journal on April 21, 2014.

On Legal Scholarship

Why law professors’ scholarly research matters Critics from the bench to the bar have complained that much legal scholarship serves little or no practical purpose and wastes law school resources. But Robin West and Danielle Citron show how it is often the work of scholars that breaks important ground on how laws are interpreted and enforced, from invoking the Civil Rights Act to stop sexual harassment in the workplace to embedding cost-benefit analysis into regulation and rule-making.

Who Benefits from a Cap on Federal Student Loans?

Bootleggers and Baptists in the Student Loan Debate University of Maryland Law Professor Frank Pasquale describes the push to cap federal student loans as a move to benefit private lenders rather than reduce tuition costs for students. He likens advocates of the proposal to the bootlegger/baptist coalition of the Prohibition Era.

Originally published in the blog Balkinization (October 2015)

In Defense of Tenure

The risks of eviscerating tenure at ABA-accredited law schools Former law school deans Robert A. Gorman and Elliott S. Milstein robustly defend tenure in a letter to the ABA Section on Legal Education and the Bar, which had proposed weakening or eliminating the tenure requirement for law school accreditation. The tenure system ensures that law professors can challenge powerful interests and propose changes in the justice system without fear of reprisals, they argue. Diluting tenure protection would likely “be an excuse for underpaying faculty (or) for running a school principally with part-time faculty.” Later in 2014, the Section decided not to change the tenure requirements in its standards.

See the Signatories

legal education

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Legal education in the United States most commonly involves a 3 year Juris Doctorate (J.D.) program. In most states, completion of a J.D. at an accredited law school is required for admission to practice as a lawyer. In the United States there are almost 200 law schools accredited by the American Bar Association . Outside of the traditional J.D. program, many law schools offer Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Studies in Law, and Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD) programs that allow further studies in a particular area of law. 

The JD typically requires three years of study after completing a bachelor's degree, and once a person completes a JD and is admitted to practice, the lawyer can practice in almost any field of law. The undergraduate degree can be in any subject area, but a specific degree may help study or get a job in a specific area of practice like biology for health and pharmaceutical specializations. Some law schools allow for accelerated 2 year JD programs or part-time JD programs that take longer than 3 years. Law school teaching tends to be far more interactive than other types of education, often involving the "Socratic Method" where the law professor asks a student a series of questions about assigned cases. Also unlike other areas of study, law classes study law by discussing cases on a topic rather than studying texts about the law. 

The study for the JD involves classes covering a wide range of topics. In the first year of law school, students generally are required to take the same classes that are seen as foundational or preparatory for the bar exam . The required classes often include: constitutional law , torts , contracts , criminal law , property (including real property ), civil procedure , and a basic course in legal writing , research, and basic oral advocacy.

The second and third years of law school allow a student to take courses that further explain topics introduced in the first year curriculum and to concentrate on particular areas of the law such as business, labor and employment, litigation, international , or family law . A number of courses may still be recommended or required of every student such as federal income taxation , corporations , commercial law , and professional ethics . Courses which expand upon topics covered in the first year include evidence and conflicts of law . In addition, the second and third years often provide the student with the chance to get some legal experience through legal aid clinics and internships instead of classes.  Many students volunteer for public interest organizations while completing their coursework. Also, Law students usually participate in extracurricular activities during these years that provide them with different forms of education such as law journals, moot court, and mock trial.

Additional Programs

There are a few types of higher legal study programs offered at law schools after a person completes a JD. The most common is the LLM degree program that lasts 1-2 years and allows students to gain expertise in an area of the law. Many foreign lawyers get an LLM degree in order to gain exposure to U.S. law. The JSD program is the most advanced legal degree in the U.S. that can take 3 or more years to complete. A JSD student completes a dissertation on a specific topic guided by professors throughout their study.

Also, a few states in the U.S. allow students to work as apprentices under a lawyer for many years instead of getting a JD to practice. The practices of these states vary greatly and not completing a JD can limit job opportunities.

U.S. Legal Education in Comparison

Legal education in the United States differs from other OECD countries in a variety of ways. Law students in many other countries such as France do not typically receive a legal degree that allows them to practice any area of law. Instead, law students can receive a shorter Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent that allows them to have some law related jobs, and law students often can receive more advanced degrees that allow them to study in a specific area. Also, many countries require law students to be an apprentice or the equivalent for a specific amount of time as part of their education. Legal education around the world varies greatly on the nature of the degree and specificity. However, most programs across the globe require less than the 7 years in the United States, with the average being around 5 years. Further, legal education in other countries typically costs less than $10,000 a year with some requiring only fees to attend. In contrast, the average cost for a JD program in the U.S. is over $45,000. 

To learn more about legal education, see this US News Article on JD Education , this Wisconsin International Law Journal Article on U.S. Legal Training History, this Forbes Article on the different legal degrees in the U.S., and this American Bar Association Overview of Post JD and Non-JD Programs .

 [Last updated in March of 2023 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

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Legal Education

Alienation in law school, enough is not enough: reflection on sexual harassment in the federal judiciary.

• Olivia Warren

The Intellectual History of Unjust Enrichment

Chapter One

Resisting the Theory/Practice Divide: Why the “Theory School” is Ambitious About Practice

• Heather K. Gerken

The Socratic Method in the Age of Trauma

• Jeannie Suk Gersen

Marking 200 Years of Legal Education: Traditions of Change, Reasoned Debate, and Finding Differences and Commonalities

• Martha Minow

The Mentoring Gap

Race and Higher Education Commentary Series

• Tomiko Brown-Nagin

The Two Modes of Inclusion

• Kenneth W. Mack

Law Schools, Leadership, and Change

• Susan Sturm

The Price of Legal Education

• Paul D. Carrington

• Latest News
• Latest Issue
• Asked and Answered
• Legal Rebels
• Modern Law Library
• Bryan Garner on Words
• Intersection
• On Well-Being
• Mind Your Business
• My Path to Law
• Storytelling
• Supreme Court Report
• Adam Banner
• Erwin Chemerinsky
• Marcel Strigberger
• Nicole Black
• Susan Smith Blakely
• Members Who Inspire

Legal Education

1812 ABA Journal Legal Education articles.

State affirmative-action bans decreased racial diversity by up to 47% at top public law schools, study finds

Representation of minority students in public law schools has “decreased substantially” in states that banned affirmative action after 1996, according to a study of first-year law students.

Apr 3, 2024 3:23 PM CDT

ABA proposal to accredit online law schools faces opposition from law deans

A proposal to accredit fully online law schools has met pushback from 26 law school deans, saying more information is needed regarding bar pass and employment rates of online law school graduates.

Apr 3, 2024 12:25 PM CDT

Number of February MBE test-takers has rebounded from pre-pandemic era, but how are national mean scores?

The number of aspiring attorneys taking the Multistate Bar Examination in February increased 1.4% over a year earlier as numbers inch past pre-pandemic levels.

Apr 2, 2024 12:02 PM CDT

Artificial intelligence could make originalist analysis easier, federal appeals judge says

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George Mason University’s law school remains ABA-accredited after financial showing

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The Supreme Court seems bitterly divided. Two justices say otherwise

Conservative Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s first congratulatory phone call after her confirmation was from Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the court’s leading liberal. The unlikely pair are now headlining joint public appearances to make the case for disagreeing more agreeably at a time when the country is more polarized than ever.

Mar 18, 2024 11:30 AM CDT

This state is creating a way to skip the bar exam and making it easier to pass for those who take it

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Biden recalls time he bluffed knowledge of torts case and why he changed his mind about civil-trial work

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24% of law students expect to work in public service, survey says

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Flush with incoming associates, law firms pulled back on 2024 summer associate hiring, rivaling Great Recession levels

Mar 12, 2024 12:22 PM CDT

New bar passage stats show several law schools below ABA cutoff

Western Michigan University’s Thomas M. Cooley Law School had the lowest two-year bar passage rate for 2021 graduates among ABA-accredited law schools, according to data released Monday by the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.

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SCOTUS unanimously keeps Trump on ballot amid sparring over reach of decision; did it ‘insulate’ insurrectionists?

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that Colorado can’t kick former President Donald Trump off the primary ballot because it is up to Congress, not the states, to enforce the constitutional ban on insurrectionists holding office.

Mar 4, 2024 9:08 AM CST

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ANALYSIS: These Innovators Are Reinventing Law School Pedagogy (Correct)

By Francis Boustany

Whether it’s to address the skills gap new lawyers often face out of law school, prepare students for the changing bar exam , or provide additional ways and topics for students to learn, law schools are adapting how they educate students to more holistically prepare them for their careers.

Through the inaugural Law School Innovation Program, Bloomberg Law seeks to identify and acknowledge schools that are innovating in the legal education space. In addition to program finalists , we are highlighting top scoring programs in six categories: business, experience, justice , pedagogy, student development , and technology.

The top scoring ...

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Oklahoma Supreme Court justices weigh a religious charter school. It would be first in US.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court heard a case Tuesday that could pry open the door to publicly funded religious charter schools across the country.

The state’s virtual charter school board approved a proposal to establish the school in a narrow vote last summer. St. Isidore of Seville Catholic School, operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa, would be run similarly to private parochial schools . In those schools, Catholic beliefs and principles are incorporated into various subjects and the fabric of campus life. 

St. Isidore, which says on its website that it is accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education , would be the first charter school of its kind in the nation. It’s set to start classes in mid-August , according to court documents. 

The plan has faced skepticism from the get-go, including from the state’s Republican attorney general, Gentner Drummond, who led arguments at the high court on Tuesday against the board’s members. Opponents say operating a religious charter school on public funding is a violation of the constitutional protection separating church and state.

Charter schools are privately run but publicly funded, which gives them more leeway than traditional public schools to dictate their own curriculum and teaching styles. But some say it also subjects them to the same legal parameters that apply to other taxpayer-funded institutions. 

Drummond argued that if the state were to proceed with St. Isidore, it would allow the establishment of, for example, state-sponsored Scientology or Islamic schools. 

“Today, Oklahomans are being compelled to fund Catholicism,” Drummond said when filing the lawsuit last fall against the virtual charter school board. “Because of the legal precedent created by the board’s actions, tomorrow we may be forced to fund radical Muslim teachings like Sharia law.”

Board approved: Oklahoma charter school body votes in favor of nation's first state-funded Catholic school

Oklahoma religious charter school a private entity, defense says

The case is among several in recent years to test how far the courts are willing to bend to support the blending of religion and public education. Proponents note that the U.S. Supreme Court in three recent lawsuits ruled in favor of religious programs’ access to taxpayer dollars.  

The school’s defenders also have pointed to the Catholic Church’s track record of producing strong academic results.

Phil Sechler, the attorney for the virtual charter school board and the senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal advocacy group, told the Oklahoma justices St. Isidore is not a public entity because it is “privately owned and operated” by representatives of the Catholic Church. However, he argued, not allowing the school to receive public money like Oklahoma’s 32 other charter schools would amount to religious discrimination that would violate the U.S. Constitution.

Sechler said the charter school program set up by the state is available to all kinds of organizations. The Supreme Court, he argued, has already made clear that programs like the one to create charter schools can't open participation to private organizations but exclude religious ones.

Oklahoma Supreme Court justices appear skeptical

On Tuesday, each side had 30 minutes to present oral arguments before the full state Supreme Court. With a packed gallery watching, Oklahoma the justices seemed skeptical of an argument that the prospective school is a private entity and not a public one.

Drummond told the justices he, as lead attorney for the state, sued the virtual charter school board “to defend the separation of church and state."

"This case is not about exclusion of a religious entity from government aid, which would implicate the free exercise of religion," he said. "Rather, it is about the state creation of a religious school which unequivocally establishes religion.”

According to the Oklahoma State Department of Education website, charter schools are defined as “public schools that are allowed greater flexibility for greater accountability.” As soon as St. Isidore signed a contract to become a charter school, it became a public entity, Drummond said. He noted that public money would begin flowing to the school as of July 1.

“If they said ‘Hey, we’re a public school,’ they lose,” Drummond said afterward. “They are a public school. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it’s a duck. It’s a public school.”

The nine justices seemed to understand the gravity of their forthcoming decision. Justice Noma Gurich, in particular, noted several times that St. Isidore would be the nation’s first religion-based charter school, and other justices asked about the religious aspects of the school’s curriculum and how many of school’s board members were Catholic. Michael McGinley, the attorney for St. Isidore, said all five board members are Catholic.

Yvonne Kauger, the longest-serving justice on the court – who was appointed in 1984 – noted if they ruled in favor of St. Isidore, it would set a major precedent: “If the wall (between church and state) comes down, it’s 'Katy, bar the door,'” she said. “Everyone will be affected.”

Ongoing legal battles over separation between church, state

The court did not say when it would rule, but the question it raises is bound to be a protracted fight in the public square.

“Make no mistake. This case is not about charter schools," said Todd Ziebarth from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, which opposes the establishment of St. Isidore, in a statement after Tuesday's oral arguments. "It is about fundamentally altering one of the founding principles of our nation."

The suit involving the attorney general is one of two challenging St. Isidore and its result could affect the other. The second was brought last July by a group of parent activists who oppose the charter. The plaintiffs, who include other parents, faith leaders and education advocates, are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, among other organizations.

The parents' suit has faced legal tumult. The judge assigned to the case was removed because of a conflict of interest. The new judge has received dueling filings from each side, including requests for dismissal. 

Oklahoma parents: Latest group to launch legal fight against nation's first publicly funded Catholic school

Among the parties weighing in on that case are attorneys for state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, a former teacher turned conservative firebrand who has become a fixture in efforts to remove "liberal indoctrination" from classrooms. One of Walters' recent high-profile acts, in January, was to appoint Chaya Raichik , of the far-right Libs of TikTok social media account, to a state library committee. The decision came under heightened scrutiny after the death in February of Nex Benedict, a gender-expansive teen in Oklahoma, amid fears that rhetoric from people like Walters and Raichik was promoting violence against LGBTQ+ young people. 

Walters has repeatedly tried to insert himself and involve the agencies he oversees in the Drummond suit, but the high court has rejected those attempts. 

Separately, Walters announced last week that he would open a school choice office within the state Department of Education.

• The Education Gradebook

In federal court, a question for Florida: What pronouns can teachers use?

• Dara Kam News Service of Florida

TALLAHASSEE — A federal judge on Friday heard arguments in a court battle over a law restricting educators’ use of personal pronouns and titles in schools, in one of a series of challenges to Florida policies targeting LGBTQ people.

Plaintiffs Katie Wood, a transgender Hillsborough County teacher, and AV Schwandes, a nonbinary teacher fired last year by Florida Virtual School, are seeking preliminary injunctions as part of a lawsuit challenging the 2023 law, passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The challenge alleges the law violates the teachers’ First Amendment rights and runs afoul of a federal civil-rights law.

Attorneys for the Florida Department of Education and other defendants asked Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the Legislature has discretion to “promote the state’s pedagogical goals and vindicate parental rights.”

The case centers on part of the 2023 law that says a school employee “may not provide to a student his or her preferred personal title or pronouns if such preferred personal title or pronouns do not correspond to his or her sex.” The state defines sex as what was assigned at birth.

The law is intended to avoid confusion “about the immutable, biological nature of sex,” attorneys for the state argued in a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

“Teachers providing to students biologically incongruous pronouns undermines the state’s policy regarding sex,” attorneys from the firm Consovoy McCarthy PLLC wrote in a brief filed March 11.

A preliminary injunction motion filed by Wood said she has been prevented from using the title “Ms.” and “she/her” pronouns.

Sam Boyd, an attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center who represents the plaintiffs, on Friday argued that it was “absurd” to maintain that a “law that requires a teacher who identifies as and presents as a woman to use male pronouns prevents confusion” or advances the state’s interests.

Pronouns and titles are integral components of a transgender person’s identity, Boyd said

“Their pronouns are probably the most central aspect of their transgender identity,” Boyd added. “To be a woman in our society is to be referred to as female.”

The “purpose and effect” of the law is to “discriminate against transgender and nonbinary people,” Diego Soto, also with the Southern Poverty Law Center, argued.

But Brian Weir, who represents the state, said the law was not intended to discriminate against anyone.

“Sex, like race and national origin, is an immutable characteristic determined solely by accident of birth,” Weir said, quoting from previous court rulings.

Arguing against the preliminary injunction, Weir said the plaintiffs haven’t demonstrated “irreparable harm” from the law. He also pointed to what he called a “delay” in the request for an injunction, which was filed four months after the law went into effect.

Walker asked a series of questions about the time lag, noting Wood “effectively served … for almost the entire semester before she sought relief.”

Wood, who has worked as a teacher in Hillsborough County since 2021, transitioned as a woman around 2020, had her name legally changed and lives as a woman, the lawsuit said. The state issued a teaching certificate in her legal name, Katie Wood. According to the lawsuit, county officials initially “were supportive of her transgender status and her female gender identity and expression.”

Since the law went into effect, the principal at Wood’s school and the county school board told her she could no longer be called “Ms.” because “her sex is deemed male.” The officials told Wood she could use the titles “Mr.,” “Teacher,” or “Coach.”

Boyd argued the law is doing “irreparable harm” to Wood.

“Ms. Wood, every day, is having to go into class and refer to herself as ‘teacher’ and be misgendered by her students out of ignorance, in some cases, to go through that process on a day-to-day basis,” Boyd said.

Schwandes, who uses they/them pronouns, was fired in October after refusing to comply with the pronoun restriction. According to the lawsuit, Schwandes is now the subject of an investigation by state education officials and could be stripped of their license.

Plaintiffs also are being represented by Southern Legal Counsel and the law firm Altshuler Berzon LLP. The lawsuit names numerous defendants, including the state Department of Education, the State Board of Education, the Hillsborough County School Board, the Lee County School Board and the Florida Virtual School Board of Trustees.

In addition to the First Amendment, the lawsuit alleges that the pronoun restrictions violate what is known as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 because they discriminate based on sex.

The state has contracted to pay the Consovoy McCarthy PLLC firm up to $507,430 for legal costs associated with the lawsuit and any subsequent appeals, according to the Department of Financial Services website.

Walker did not rule on the motions Friday and said he has trials scheduled for the next month but would “do my best to get out an order as quickly as possible.”

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• U.S. Department of Education Levies $14 Million Fine Against Liberty University under the Federal Clery Act

On March 5, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education (the “ Department ”) announced that Liberty University (“ Liberty ”) has agreed to pay a fine of $14 million for material and ongoing violations of the federal Clery Act. This fine, which was imposed by the Department’s office of Federal Student Aid (“ FSA ”), is the largest ever levied under the Act.

The Clery Act is a consumer protection law that aims to provide transparency around campus crime policy and statistics. The Act requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to release a public annual security report (an “ ASR ”) to employees and students that includes statistics of campus crime for the preceding three calendar years. The ASR must also contain policy statements regarding crime reporting, campus facility security and access, law enforcement authority, incidence of alcohol and drug use, and the prevention of/response to sexual assault, domestic or dating violence, and stalking.

In Liberty’s case, the Department found numerous incidents of misclassification or underreporting of campus crimes, particularly in connection with sexually based offenses. Federal investigators uncovered cases in which the university’s investigators either mishandled or failed to properly investigate claims.  These findings included lack of administrative capability, inaccurate and incomplete information disclosures, failure to comply with the Violence Against Women Act Requirements, and failure to issue emergency notifications and timely warnings in accordance with federal regulations.

Liberty’s case is a cautionary tale to all colleges and universities receiving federal funding from the FSA. These entities should closely monitor their compliance with the Clery Act requirements and ensure that their campus crime reporting systems are timely and accurate.  The Clery Act outlines five core requirements for compliance. At minimum, colleges and universities must ensure that they i) report annual crime statistics to the Department; ii) maintain emergency response programs to notify the community of emergencies and issue warnings of threats; iii) maintain a daily crime log and fire log; iv) implement and disclose policies and procedures relating to sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking; and v) provide training to all campus security authorities.

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40 facts about elektrostal.

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 02 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

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