The NextGen bar exam, which more rigorously examines law students’ knowledge of critical lawyering skills, is inspiring law schools to step up and provide students with more practical, real-world experiences. Six schools, in particular, have risen to the challenge, enhancing their offerings to better prepare their students for their legal careers.
As part of their second annual Law School Innovation Program, Bloomberg Law is honoring and recognising innovative law school programs that teach students practical legal skills. These programs scored highest in four categories: changing pedagogy, beyond the law, immersive experience, and career pathing.
Six programs have been noticed for their comprehensive approach in the career pathing category. Among them are Brigham Young University Law School and Suffolk University Law School.
Brigham Young University Law School offers the BYU Law Academies Program, which provides rising 2L students the chance to hone their practical skills with experienced practitioners nationwide in varying practice areas.
Meanwhile, through the Accelerator to Practice Program, Suffolk University Law School offers students the skill set needed to excel in smaller law firms focused on serving individuals with average and modest incomes.
In addition to these top-performing programs, honorable mentions were given to Boston University School of Law, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, and The University of Tennessee College of Law, each standing out with unique course offerings designed to prepare students for success in diverse areas of law practice.
To provide further detail on these institutions’ standout offerings and innovative approaches in legal education, we invite you to explore each of the schools’ respective programs. You may also read related content available on the Law School Innovation Program page, including in-depth analysis pieces on the various categories credited for these institutions’ innovative strides. You can access the original analysis piece here.