May 19, 2014: Judicial Institute, State Bar Association Host Convocation On Coming Changes To Legal Education: Ensuring Professional Values
5.19.2014
Judges, practicing attorneys and educators will debate how to prepare law students for a rapidly changing profession on May 22 at the New York State Judicial Institute on Professionalism and the Law, 84 North Broadway on the campus of Pace University Law School in White Plains, NY.
“The Coming Changes to Legal Education: Ensuring Professional Values” is the theme of the one-day Convocation, which begins at 10 a.m. It is jointly sponsored by the Judicial Institute and the New York State Bar Association with its Committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar.
The Convocation comes amid growing calls to rethink the way law schools educate students, many of whom graduate with six-figure debts and uncertain job prospects. New York State Bar Association President David M. Schraver of Rochester (Nixon Peabody) has made legal education a top priority during his tenure.
“As stewards of the legal profession, we want to ensure that today’s law students are prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. The Convocation brings together the differing perspectives of law school educators, judges and practicing attorneys,” Schraver said.
According to Judicial Institute Chair Paul Saunders of New York City (Cravath, Swaine & Moore), “Law school curricula may be changing, but the professional obligations of practicing lawyers have not. If we can’t inculcate those core values in younger lawyers, we will not survive as a self-regulated profession.”
In addition to Schraver and Saunders, welcoming remarks will be delivered by American Bar Association President James R. Silkenat of New York City (Sullivan and Worcester) and New York State Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman.
Rebecca Love Kourlis, executive director of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System and a former justice of the Colorado Supreme Court, will give the keynote address at 10:15 a.m.
At 11 a.m., the morning panel will examine proposed changes in legal education. Vincent E. Doyle, III of Buffalo (Connors & Vilardo), former president of the State Bar Association, is the moderator. The panelists are: Michael Cardozo of New York City (Proskauer Rose), former New York City corporation counsel; John Burwell Garvey, director of Daniel Webster Scholar Honors Program, University of New Hampshire School of Law; Robert Lapiner, professor at New York University and former associate vice chancellor for Global Education; Diane F. Bosse, chair of the New York State Board of Law Examiners; and Luke Bierman, dean-designate, Elon University School of Law, Greensboro, N.C.
Professor Fred Rooney, director of the International Justice Center for Post-Graduate Development at Touro Law Center, is the luncheon speaker. He will be introduced by Judicial Institute Dean Juanita Bing Newton, former deputy chief administrative judge for the State of New York.
At 2 p.m., the afternoon panel will examine how various proposals for changing legal education might affect attorney professionalism. Moderated by Judicial Institute Chair Saunders, the panelists include: John T. Broderick, Jr., dean of the University of New Hampshire School of Law; James M. Wicks of Uniondale (Farrell Fritz), adjunct professor, St. Johns University School of Law; Myra Berman, associate dean for experiential learning and director of the Collaborative Court Programs, Touro Law Center; Patrick Longan, professor, Mercer University Law School, Mason, Ga.; and Martin Katz, dean and professor, University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
Matthew Diller, dean of Benjamin Cardozo School of Law, will deliver concluding remarks at 3:30 p.m.
The event is open to the public. Seating is limited. To register, please contact Kristi DiPaolo at [email protected].
The Convocation was organized by John Gross of Northport (Ingerman Smith), James M. Wicks of Uniondale (Farrell Fritz) and Christopher Chang of New York City (Law Offices of Christopher E. Chang), all board members of the Judicial Institute. Gross also is a member of the State Bar Association Committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar.
The proceedings of the Convocation will be published in a future journal of the Judicial Institute. For previous issues, see here.
The Judicial Institute on Professionalism in the Law was created in 1999 by then Chief Judge Judith Kaye to “promote awareness and adherence to professional values and ethical behavior by lawyers in New York State.”
The 75,000-member New York State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. It was founded in 1876.
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