Amicus Briefs - Friends of Lawyering Skills Pedagogy
The Law Teacher, Vol. 20, Spring 2014
4 Pages Posted: 4 Dec 2013 Last revised: 24 May 2014
Date Written: December 3, 2013
Abstract
The hue and cry seeking more experiential education in law school, and calling for far more practice-ready law school graduates, can no longer be ignored but at our peril. The Amicus model for first-year lawyering skills gives students so much more than traditional models give them now. And while achieving those laudable and essential goals, Amicus involvement also serves the bench, the bar, justice more generally, and the parties more specifically. Students who have experienced the Amicus model of lawyering skills will be far more practice-ready than those who have not. That is clearly worth any extra effort.
Some of us have counseled students thus: “If you’re having trouble getting in touch with the scenario or the law on point or the case in the casebook, imagine you are representing one of the parties.” By following an Amicus model, we may never have to give that same counsel again.
Keywords: Legal Writing, Lawyering Skills
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation