ABSTRACT

The study of law is becoming increasingly expensive. Law graduates have substantial debt from law school and undergraduate loans. The survey asked lawyers about the relative importance of selected skills and areas of knowledge important to the practice of law; the law school’s contribution to the skills and areas of knowledge, showing how prepared the lawyers were after law school. The Minnesota Studies undertook to determine to what extent law schools provided Minnesota lawyers consistent training in important legal practice and law practice management skill areas. The survey results demonstrate gaps in legal education and why law schools should revise their missions, curriculum, and teaching and learning methods to meet the needs of the law school and the profession to provide sufficient training and learning opportunities and become relevant for the present and future. From 1975 to 2013, several studies have analyzed the effectiveness of a general law school curriculum in preparing students to practice effectively in the legal profession.