National Jurist - November 2008 - (Page 27) ming by revamping the programs to better serve students. “There is no substitute for leadership in this field,” Stern said. But the bad trends cannot be overlooked. Stern said law school rankings have a really pernicious effect on the way law schools spend their money. Those rankings do not measure what goes on inside the institution and the quality of education, he added. “I see how these law schools are so beholden to the criteria used in the rankings,” he said. “It’s just unfortunately a cycle. In my view, applicants should go in and look for qualities that matter to them.” Anderson said those in the field dedicate themselves to the disenfranchised people in the world who desperately need the service of lawyers. “But the need in the world is much greater than what law schools are producing today,” she added. “So we have much further to go as legal academy to try and service the real needs of the poor and disempowered in the world.” Looking ahead Spieler said the biggest challenge continues — law school is very expensive and many of the public sector and public interest job salaries have simply not kept up. Now people with this passion have to confront the fact that they have to figure out how to pay off loan debt. “That’s really a core challenge at this point,” Spieler said. “When I went to law school you could graduate with debt and work it off, and now it’s difficult for students to do.” But a major law school development has been the increase in Loan Repayment Assistance Programs. Many other law schools have beefed up their LRAP budgets. They vary in generosity and terms included, but it’s been an area of significant growth. There is also that sense of isolation. Now a significant amount of law school groups raise money by conducting auctions and tithing programs. Stern said the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 was a terrific and surprise development. And in August, the Higher Education Reauthorization and College Opportunity Act of 2008 was signed. It establishes four new loan forgiveness and repayment programs that benefit public interest lawyers. There are essential components to the success of public interest law programs, Spieler said. The first is student support in the financial sense — scholarships, loan repayment and stipends. “Continuing to build our domestic and international relationships, starting new programs and managing curriculum and faculty recruitment are things that are constantly in review,” she said. A major trend 15 years ago was that public interest support came mainly from career services offices. Now there are public interest advisors and independent offices and programs. “If law school students speak loudly enough, deans will listen,” Stern said. “There is nothing like one school having [a great program], because it often inspires a peer school to have it too.” ■ Michelle Weyenberg is Associate Managing Editor for The National Jurist. Pace Spring Semester 2009 Offering: Th The The Program In affiliation with University College Faculty of Laws University of London • Exciting ABA-approved domestic and international law curriculum Apply online at www.law.pace.edu Experience • Excellent senior faculty from University College Faculty of Laws and Pace Law School • Internships with British barristers, solicitors, Members of Parliament, and human rights organizations • Mooting opportunities with British counterparts at the Inns of Court Pace Law School 78 North Broadway White Plains, NY 10603 (914) 422-4210 admissions@law.pace.edu November 2008 THE NATIONAL JURIST 27 http://www.law.pace.edu http://www.law.pace.edu
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