Find a news article about school pedagogy in the United States or Canada. Briefly summarize it and critically discuss it.
The news article I selected is the U.S News talking about “Choose a Law School Based on Teaching Style.” According to the article, there are several law schools in the United States that have different forms of school pedagogy (Kowarski). The teaching methods vary in different institutions. Nonetheless, the article asserts that the United States law schools for more than a century have continued to teach their students using the Socratic method. This method involves instructor’s interrogation of the students and demonstrating to them the best ways to analyze court cases. Afterwards, the students are eventually graded through make or break test. Conferring to the article, it is apparent that law schools are transforming with time as a result of the changes in the legal marketplace. The article, for instance, provides that many law schools have done away with high-stakes finals and swapped them with a sequence of exams and provision of mentoring opportunities.
According to the article, it is significant for potential law students to scrutinize law school’s pedagogy. The article provides several ways in which this should be conducted, which forms the basis of our discussion. In the first place, the students need to visit the schools and examine the teaching methodology. Since there are several law schools, some of the institution focus on research while others on teaching. The aspiring students should observe the teaching practice so that they can determine what is best for them
Secondly, the article pinpoints on the need for the law school to incorporate the Socratic method and its full utilization. Despite the fact that the method may seem intricate for the students at first, the system, which is applied in nearly all laws schools in the United States demand for the instructors to ask several questions in explaining points. This makes the students to better understand the concept rather than the instructors directly explain the points. If effectively applied, it sharpens law student to respond meticulously to tough concepts.
Prospective law students also need to explore the achievement rate of the law schools. In the article, the best way to ascertain the accomplishment of a particular law school is to examine the bar passage rate. If the rate is low, despite the student’s graduation, it is apparent that there are problems.
Furthermore, aspiring law students also need to thoroughly examine the resume of the instructors in the respective law schools. This is significant for the students to determine law institutions that have professors with a legal background apart from the academic qualifications.
The article also underpins the importance of the prospective students considering their personal learning preferences in order to have excellent learning experiences. This would offer effective learning skills for the students in pursuit of the law career. Moreover, students who want to pursue a career in law need to consider schools that offer intensive training on how to read, write and speak like lawyers. The fundamental foundation of the law profession is communication skills, which needs to be enhanced.
I agree with the article on the importance of student’s selecting law schools that have several teaching approaches. This is because the Socratic method is being overtaken with time. Students need to lean other methods, for instance, styles that advocate for clients through moderating pro con debates. Generally, the article advices students on best strategies to be put in place in choosing the best law school in their pursuit for a career in law.
Question Two
Find a news article about law school admissions in the United States. Briefly summarize it and critically discuss it.
The article “Harvard Law School will no longer require the LSAT for admission,” by the Washington Post talks about the institutions decision to start stop considering laws school assessment tests (LSAT) as a rite of passage before beginning the legal education. According to the article, Harvard University, one of the premier learning institution globally plans to allow applicants in the law school to submit their scores from other graduate record examinations. The institutions move is aimed at increasing the number of student enrolling in the program through making the entry less expensive for applications.
This decision by Harvard University only comes a few days after the arm of the American Bar Association had announced that accredits law schools need to change their standards to allow other tests apart from LSAT. According to the article, the University of Arizona College was the first law school in the United States to allow applicants to use the GRE scores apart from LSAT scores. This action was followed by two other schools across the globe, Nonetheless, the same action by Harvard could influence other institutions since it is among the leading law schools in the world. Nonetheless, the schools have been criticized for not for using the avenues to increase their consumer base (Svrluga).
The LSAT requirement to enter law schools has triggered several arguments (Haddon 45). I do agree with the articles theme since the LSAT requirement have made many students to struggle in their entry into law institutions. For instance, the world has gone through some difficult financial times, like recessions which have made education among other things to be so expensive. As a result, imposing requirements like LSAT to institutions before joining scare away students in the courses and individuals prefer undertaking other options that are cost effective.
In the Harvard case, despite that fact the increase of institution admissions, it is not only intended to enhance the volume of admissions but also ensuring the institution does not lock out qualified candidates. LSAT are ineffective in ascertaining the required skills for students pursuing law courses. This is because, with the current changing world, some of the legal issues in law require skills in other fields like technology or engineering among others. Basically, some of these skills are learned naturally but are locked out of the LSAT tests hence blocking great minds that would have been effective in the legal sector.
Furthermore, the institutions that have opted for other entry examinations, for example, GRE has also demonstrated that they are equally effective forecasters of law students in their early learning stage. Therefore, institutions like Harvard need to ensure that any barriers along the way of education for law career students are eliminated as in the he case of LSAT.
Admission Letter to Canadian Maw School
My desire to pursue law at the University of Manitoba School of Law is resolutely deep-rooted in my interest on the occurrence that are taking place in the world and, most significantly, assisting others to get justice and their human rights. After completing my undergraduate studies, I have gone through real life experiences and success, which have naturally led me to this objective. Despite the fact that my life experience has made me move from one place to the other, my work experiences so far has entailed numerous experiences. I would like to emphasize that all the experiences and opportunities that have come my way have significantly contributed to my passion to further my studies in law.
I come from a humble background in my small hometown in Northern Jarbrige, Nevada. Several people from this area have not realized the significance of higher education, especially from graduate schools. After I graduated from high school, I went back home and pondered my next move. None of my parents attended college. Initially, despite the fact that I had completed high school, I had to struggle with the feelings of being stuck in a motionless environment that had infiltrated my mind. I had to work my way out higher than high school. Even though many of my associates and family members did not recognize my desires, I was sure I wanted to make a difference and their doubt was my motivation to move forward.
Three months after graduating from high school, I decided to join one of my distant uncle’s law firm to undertake some clerical responsibilities. The 3 years I spent in the law firm refined a profound desire to serve the society in the law field. While in the law firm, I had the great privilege to meet and serve alongside several honorary men and women who were practicing law and fought to make sure justice is served in the society. During my stay in the law firm, I studied several components of the law filed and struggles that both the people who suffer are denied their rights and justice go through. Motivated by the desire and commitment to apprehend the basics of law, I decided to go to the University and pursue a law career.
In order to afford to pay for my tuition fees, I continued to serve in the law firm besides being an active member of the local human rights groups. Furthermore, as a result of the increased activities at the law firm, my responsibilities increased and I had to get a better way to balance school and work. I had to attend my courses in a less than full time. Regardless of the work and balancing between the two, I managed to focus on my goal.
While undertaking my undergraduate studies, I became more legally enlightened and engaged. My passion to become a lawyer became even more. The interest in serving the people in pursuit for justice never changed. Moreover, I understood that I could make a more significant difference doing something that I have a deeper desire for. Pursuing an undergraduate degree in law provided a great opportunity for my career. As an undergraduate, I was fortunate to gain extensive experience in law, both in the law firm and at the institution.
My present decision to seek for a law school admission at the University of Manitoba is related my desire to become a fully practicing lawyer in order to fulfill my goals. My interest in attending the University of Manitoba is motivated by the great reputation the institution enjoys for producing one of the best acknowledged and outstanding legal practitioners globally. A combination of my passion and the opportunities that are provided by the University of Manitoba, School of Law solidifies my desire to help others attain their rights. Law school studies provides expected outcome of this obligation and, since making that decision, I have concentrated realistically on attaining it.
Works Cited
Haddon, Phoebe A., and Deborah W. Post. “Misuse and Abuse of the LSAT: Making the Case for Alternative Evaluative Efforts and a Redefinition of Merit.” (2006).
Kowarski, Ilana. “Choose a Law School Based on Teaching Style.” U.S News, 2016 https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/articles/2016-10-06/choose-a-law-school-based-on-teaching-style. Accessed 25 March 2015.
Svrluga, Susan. “Harvard Law School will no longer require the LSAT for admission.” The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2017/03/08/harvard-law-school-will-no-longer-require-the-lsat-for-admission/.Accessed 6 July 2015.