Transcript Preparation for the Oral Tradition: American Legal

Fletcher School of Law and
Diplomacy
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COMPARATIVE VIEW OF
LEGAL EDUCATION IN THE
UNITED STATES
PRESENTED BY: LOUIS AUCOIN
Features of American Legal Education
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American Legal Education
 Bachelor’s degree
 Written examinations in
large classes; research
followed by three years
of full time study or four papers in seminars
years of part time study  Professional skills
training
required
 Socratic Method
American Legal Education
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 Three year professional degree obtained after four
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year undergraduate education
Admission is highly selective; students must take a
standardized Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)
Selection determined by LSAT, undergraduate
grades and character and fitness for law practice
200 law schools approved/accredited by the
American Bar Association
Each approved law school is visited once every 7
years by a team to determine if the law school is
meeting the Standards for Approval.
Standard 302 Curriculum
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 (a) A law school shall require that each student receive
substantial instruction in:
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(1) the substantive law generally regarded as necessary to effective
and responsible participation in the legal profession;
(2) legal analysis and reasoning, legal research, problem solving, and
oral communication;
(3) writing in a legal context, including at least one rigorous writing
experience in the first year and at least one additional rigorous
writing experience after the first year;
(4) other professional skills generally regarded as necessary for
effective and responsible participation in the legal profession; and
(5) the history, goals, structure, values, rules and responsibilities of
the legal profession and its members.
Standard 302 Curriculum
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 (b) A law school shall offer substantial opportunities
for:
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(1) live-client or other real-life practice experiences,
appropriately supervised and designed to encourage reflection
by students on their experiences and on the values and
responsibilities of the legal profession, and the development of
one’s ability to assess his or her performance and level of
competence;
(2) student participation in pro bono activities; and
(3) small group work through seminars, directed rsearch, small
classes, or collaborative work.
The Fletcher School
Tufts University
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 Boston, MA
 The oldest exclusively graduate school of International
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Affairs in the US
6 degree programs:
MALD, MA, PhD, MIB, LLM, GMAP
Approximately 550 students
22 fields of study, 175 courses per year
42% International, 80+ countries
The Fletcher School is Known for:
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 Its first-rate faculty who operate at the nexus of theory and practice
 Being one of the leading graduate professional schools in the world;
the first exclusively graduate school of international affairs in the
U.S.
 Its multidisciplinary curriculum combining functional and regional
approaches to traditional and emerging issues
 The intimacy of the Fletcher community
 Global innovation; i.e., the Global Master of Arts Program (GMAP),
the Master of International Business (MIB), the Center for Emerging
Market Enterprises (CEME), and the Master of Laws in International
Law (LLM)
 Its caliber and diversity of its student body
 Its distinguished alumni in all sectors
LL.M. Program in International Law
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Enriching international legal careers through the Fletcher experience
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15 Students in the 2010-2011 class
87% International
Applications from 35+ countries
A year long program culminating in a Capstone in Talloires, France
Eight courses, five within the law field
Thesis presented at the Capstone
Language requirement
The High Table Series
 Brings top legal practitioners to Fletcher
 Networking opportunity for our LLMs
 Meets once a month
Key Topic Areas
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 Foreign Policy
 Environment & Energy
 Business
 Economic Development
 Trade
 Law
 Security
 Human Rights
 Conflict Resolution
 Diplomacy
LL.M. Program in International Law
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•
Nigerian national with 20+ years experience, including the past 6 years as the Managing Partner of
his firm, holding two Master’s degrees from the University of Lagos
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Legal counsel for the Ministry of the Attorney General, Ontario, Canada in the area of civil litigation ,
member of the South Asian Bar Association and Pro Bono counsel for the NGO SMILE
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Malaysian attorney serving as Associate Legal Officer at the International Commission of Jurists, AsiaPacific Region in Bangkok
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Attorney from the Republic of Georgia working for the UNHCR and the Norwegian Refugee Council,
holding a Master’s degree from the Central European University, Budapest
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Attorney from the U.S. licensed in California and Massachusetts, author of Expatriate Games,
Skyhorse Publishing (2008), holding a Master’s degree from the Central European University, Prague
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Attorney from Pakistan working as the Coordinator for the Human Rights Defender’s Protection
Project for the Nonviolent Peaceforce Sri Lanka, holding a Master’s degree from Mahidol University
Where can I go with my degree?
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 Public sector/government
 Multilateral/inter-
 Academia
governmental
organizations
 Private sector
 Non-profit sector
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Foundations/institutions
Think tanks
Non-governmental
organizations (NGOs)
Public interest/advocacy
groups
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Consulting
Financial services
Media
Technology
Law Firms
Energy
Where Do Our Alumni Work?
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