NYT: Harvard Law Decides to Steep Students in 21st-Century Issues

[DeepModem Mom]

Harvard Law Decides to Steep Students in 21st-Century Issues
By JONATHAN D. GLATER
Published: October 7, 2006

The first year of law school at Harvard, the subject of the movie “The Paper Chase,” will be getting its broadest overhaul in more than 100 years.

Students will still have to learn some of the classics, like contracts, torts and criminal law, but will spend less time on them.

They will be required to take in addition a course in legislation and regulation; one of three new courses dealing with international law; and a course on legal problem solving, in which they will prepare for resolving clients’ dilemmas rather than analyze abstract legal issues.

“The world of law has changed,” said Elena Kagan, dean of Harvard Law School. The changes in requirements, Dean Kagan added, reflect “changes in what our students will do and what they need to know.”

Harvard is not the first law school to revamp its curriculum, but its efforts are noteworthy because of the place the institution has in the history of legal education....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/07/education/07harvard.html