Practicing Theory: Legal Education for the Twenty-First Century

29 Pages Posted: 4 Mar 2011 Last revised: 17 Dec 2012

See all articles by Larry E. Ribstein

Larry E. Ribstein

University of Illinois College of Law (deceased); PERC - Property and Environment Research Center

Date Written: March 3, 2011

Abstract

Law practice and legal education are facing fundamental changes. Many assume that these changes will force law schools to give up on theory and focus more on training students for the practice of law. However, this essay shows that the future may be more uncertain and complex. The only thing that is certain is that law schools may face, for the first time, the need to provide the type of education the market demands rather than serving lawyers' and law professors’ preferences. Legal educators must respond to these demands by serving not just the existing U.S. market for legal services but also a global market for legal information. This may call for training in some, but not all, of the theories and disciplines that have been developing in law schools.

JEL Classification: K11, K41, K49

Suggested Citation

Ribstein, Larry Edward, Practicing Theory: Legal Education for the Twenty-First Century (March 3, 2011). Iowa Law Review, Vol. 96, pp. 1649-1676, 2011, Illinois Program in Law, Behavior and Social Science Paper No. LBSS11-12, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1776043

Larry Edward Ribstein (Contact Author)

University of Illinois College of Law (deceased)

PERC - Property and Environment Research Center

2048 Analysis Drive
Suite A
Bozeman, MT 59718
United States

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