What Can Law Schools Do Better?

Two independent, five-year studies on legal education published their findings in March 2007. While employing different methodologies, their recommendations were almost identical: Law schools over-emphasize teaching legal analysis and doctrinal knowledge and virtually ignore teaching professional skills and values.

The cover story of this issue features articles and interviews from six legal educators who are implementing or are planning exciting, innovative programs at schools. In many local editions of TCL, deans and professors offer their perspectives on the research findings of these and earlier studies.

May/June 2008 A Sound Mind In A Sound Body. Nearly 75% of TCL readers are at risk for burnout and 45% suffer from high levels of acute stress, according to a year-long study conducted by Lyle H. Miller, Ph.D. and Alma Dell Smith, Ph.D. of Stress Directions Inc. Burnout, the result of high levels of stress over time, is associated with fatigue, overwork, and not enough time to get things done. Acute stress shows up in anxiety, difficulty concentrating, poor memory, and indecisiveness.

**To find your local edition, go to the small gray box on the far right of the masthead and click on: Select a local edition. The scroll down bar lists the states in which TCL is distributed. Simply click on your state.

This issue of The Complete Lawyer focuses on proven antidotes to stress: some are traditional, such as regular exercise and improved sleep; others, like meditation, yoga, and taking cognitive rest breaks during the day, are less mainstream but have proven to be equally effective.

Other articles of note in this issue:

FIRM & PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

• Five Steps To Achieve A Sound Mind
• Invest In Training Programs During Tough Economic Times

MARKETING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

• Why Marketing Is Drudgery For Most Attorneys
• Teach Your Clients To Become Better Writers

PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL PLANNING

• Vacation Plans? Think For Yourself
• Lawyers’ Stress Buttons Are Pressed All Day, Every Day

RESEARCH, SURVEYS & RESOURCES

• Conflict Revolution—Mediating Evil, War, Injustice and Terrorism