The Future of Legal Education

In the wisdom of a Chinese proverb: “Tell me, I will forget. Show me, I will remember. Involve me, I will understand.”

I have heard this quote before, but I was reminded of it, reading about Washington and Lee Law School’s new curriculum.  They are entirely re-inventing the third year to make it a year of “professional development through simulated and actual practice experiences.”

Other law schools are working on changes to their first year curriculum.  (3/21/08 Conference details)

How does technology in legal education fit into the Chinese proverb (“… Involve me, I will understand.” )?

• Students self-assess their skills (for interviewing techniques, negotatiating, trial practice, etc.)
  • MediaNotes software and CALI space will facilitate that
  • Podcasting and/or Digital webcam video will also make it easier
• Students participate in discussions and give their view on critical topics
  • Discussion forums in TWEN
  • Class blogs and/or wikis
• Students actively participate in class
  • CPS (clickers) make this possible
  • Faculty/Student web response pages are available
  • Customized polling in TWEN
  • Install poll through CALI
• Students practice difficult concepts using simulations and/or interactives
  • CALI lessons are great
  • other software similations
• Students use the technology they will use when they practice law
  • be familiar with case management software
  • be able to use PowerPoint during a trial
  • be able to display evidence using a Document Camera during a trial

The Mets and Expectations

It’s hard to concentrate today after what happened to the Mets this season.  Yes, the truth is out, I am a die hard Mets fan and have been for years. So I should have been prepared.  But this is what happens with high expectations.  Of course, I had high expectations, rightfully so, because they have been in first place all season and had a 7 game  with 17 games left to play.

How does this relate to technology here at Albany Law School?  Right now, I think about the Dean Alexander Moot Courtroom.  After researching all the technology we could add to make this room  a technology-enhanced classroom, electronic courtroom and videoconferencing/recording venue, we found a company that gave us prices we could afford so that almost everything we wanted could be purchased.

High expectations were immediately dashed when only the projector and laptop controls worked at orientation in August.  The deadline was extended to last Friday and more controls were enabled.

Unfortunately my dream of an electronic courtroom had to be modified when the lcd monitors could not be permanently installed on the lawyer tables, witness stand, judge’s bench,  wires could not be hidden on the judge’s bench, etc. 

 But the biggest disappointment will be although all the money was made available to purchase the technology, professors do not use their laptop, or the document camera, or the Smartboard or the videoconferencing equipment and mock trials are held with setting up all the monitors, mikes, etc.

So unlike the Mets, I will not assume the everything will work out like I planned.  I will do eveything I can to facilitate the use of the equipment even when things are not set up correctly or work easily.  And if my dream is not a reality this year, I’ll have to remember the positives and continue to correct things next year.

Just Trying Out Word 2007

 

I am really existed after hearing Sean Smith from the NYS Prosecutors Training Institute give a talk on Thursday about “Courtroom Technology” to two Trial Practice classes. (Click HERE to listen to the podcast of his talk.)

He began his Powerpoint presentation with the message:

No Excuses
It’s 2007
Embrace Technology

He even included a quote from David Byrne of the Talking Heads: “The genius of powerpoint is that any idiot can use it.”

He stressed that technology offers the jury the advantage viewing of evidence that is “private and recent.”  It allowed him to include of 280 pieces of evidence in one day.

In addition to Powerpoint, he recommended a wireless mouse to zoom in on words on slides and using the trial presentation software such as Sanction.

This post was done entirely in Word 2007.

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