What should the 21st century law student be studying?

I asked my Legal Design students what they think JD students should be learning right now in law schools, to prepare them for their future careers in the legal industry.

Future Lawyer 21st century jd

Here’s what they said (in no particular order):

  1. Project Management
  2. Coding: how to do it, how to work with those who do it, how to plan for others to do it for you
  3. How to talk Business Talk, think in Business mental models
  4. ‘Touchy Feely’ – knowing how you come across to others, what your work personality is, and how to communicate with others in a better way
  5. Data Analytics – how to read, comprehend, and use data
  6. The New Era of Liability – understanding where liability will lie in our new world of automation, robotics, etc
  7. Visual Culture and Visual Power – how to use visuals in litigation and the courtroom (among other places), and what this means
  8. The Basics of Litigation Process – if you don’t clerk, how can you get up to speed with those who have
  9. Professional Development
  10. Career Options & Planning

How does this list look to you? Would you flesh it out, add others to it, edit what’s on here?

And it goes without saying, I advocate for design, visual & creative skills to be on this list too.

 

2 Comments

Excellent list! I’d add:

– Accounting 101
– Process Improvement (Lean, Six Sigma and Agile)
– Tomorrow’s Lawyers by Richard Susskind
– To Sell is Human by Daniel Pink