The Brooklyn Law School Library’s January New Books List is now available thanks to Cataloging Librarian Jeff Gabel. The 73 titles on the list cover a wide range of subjects including female circumcision; the invisible web; western films; the Bible and law; the death penalty; hedge funds; and taxation. Two of the titles deal with the role of law schools in preparing students for the practice of law.
The first of these, Teaching Law Practice: Preparing the Next Generation of Lawyers edited by Charles Cercone (Call # KF279.T43 2013), argues that law schools have a peculiar responsibility and opportunity to help accelerate the change in the packaging, pricing, and delivery of affordable legal products and services to corporate and individual clients in sustainable law firm models. Schools with practice preparation as their mission can help the profession study and improve the ways in which lawyers identify clients and their needs, and then find effective and efficient ways to serve them. The book collects some of the practice-preparation efforts of the faculty at Thomas M. Cooley Law School. The essays in the book demonstrate how faculty can prepare graduates to practice law and meet new challenges that all lawyers must face.
The second book, The Marble and the Sculptor: From Law School to Law Practice by Keith Robert Lee (Call # KF297 .L444 2013), provides an understanding of what is expected of new attorneys and a framework for becoming a successful—both as a lawyer and in life. With advice on everything from choosing classes that matter in law school to the importance of writing well, attracting clients, and avoiding five basic mistakes in your first job at a law firm, the book can help young lawyers regardless of law school or area of practice.
Earlier this month, BLS Library’s Kathy Darvil, Access Services/Reference Librarian and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law Reference participated in the Law Library Association of Greater New York’s 75th Anniversary Education Conference. The panel, called Collaborating to Produce Practice Ready Graduates, consisted of Prof. Darvil, Susan McKenna, Elaine Egan, Linda-Jean Schneider, and Yasmin Harker. Prof. Darvil’s presentation Preparing Practice Ready Graduates: Specialized Legal Research Courses is available at this link.
