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The Paradox of Tradition and Change in Creating a New Public Law School: Florida International University College of Law The First Five Years. Peggy Maisel Associate Professor and Founding Director of the Clinical Program. FIU COLLEGE OF LAW MISSION.
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The Paradox of Tradition and Change in Creating a New Public Law School: Florida International University College of LawThe First Five Years Peggy Maisel Associate Professor and Founding Director of the Clinical Program
FIU COLLEGE OF LAW MISSION • Serve the citizens of the State of Florida, particularly South Florida, by providing access to the legal profession through a contemporary, high-quality educational program. • CARNEGIE FRAMEWORK • The Three Apprenticeships – Need to • Integrate knowledge, skills and judgment • FIU FRAMEWORK • A Full and Faithful Presentation of the Courses Traditionally Offered at Nearly all U.S. Law Schools • Pervasive International and Comparative Law Curriculum • Solid Grounding in the Skills and Values of the Profession
FIU STRENGTHS – THE FIRST FIVE YEARS • HIGH STUDENT BAR PASSAGE RATE; ABA ACCREDITATION IN FASTEST TIME POSSIBLE • HIGH QUALITY TEACHING IN FIRST YEAR • THREE SEMESTER LEGAL SKILLS AND VALUES PROGRAM WITH FULL-TIME FACULTY. NEW DIRECTOR • EXCELLENT CLINICAL PROGRAM – 3 FULL-TIME FACULTY; 5 IN-HOUSE CLINICS; MORE THAN ½ STUDENTS ENROLLED; CLINICS INTERDISCIPLINARY: • STRONG ADVOCACY/SKILLS PROGRAM IN TRIAL PRACTICE, MOOT COURT AND NEGOTIATION: NATIONAL COMPETITION SUCCESS • MOST DIVERSE FACULTY IN U.S. (Princeton Review) • MAJORITY/MINORITY STUDENTS • FIRST MANDATORY INTERNATIONAL/COMPARATIVE LAW COURSE IN FIRST YEAR. PERVASIVE INTERNATIONAL LAW CURRICULUM; FACULTY WITH INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS • MANDATORY PRO BONO FOR ALL STUDENTS – 30 HOUR GRADUATION REQUIREMENT • SCHOLARSHIP: PRODUCTIVE FACULTY. STARTED LAW REVIEW. • ATTRACTED EXCELLENT STUDENTS – LSAT/GRADE POINT
OBSTACLES/PRESSURES INHIBITING INNOVATION AND CHANGE • Accreditation Standards • Small Pool of Faculty with Non-Traditional Skills and Values • Desire To Be Ranked as Elite
CHALLENGES/DIFFICULTIES IN FIRST 5 YEARS • 1) Founding (Senior) Faculty Traditional • 2) Faculty Hierarchy led to Lecturer Turnover and Low Morale • 3) Curriculum Not Integrated. Legal Analysis Prioritized over Skills and Judgment • 4) Resources – Cutbacks in State Funding – Impact Clinical and Skills Programs • 5) International Curriculum – Student Comments
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FIU BASED ONCARNEGIE FRAMEWORK • FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP FOR CHANGE • NEW REWARD SYSTEM FOR FACULTY • FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT FOR STUDENTS • A COMPLETE STUDENT SURVEY