2024 Law Review Symposium

Embracing the Past, Enhancing the Future: Exploring the Evolution of Legal Education

Friday, September 20, 2024

Join the Arkansas Law Review from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, September 20, 2024, for an exciting symposium discussing the evolution of legal education. The conference will include discussions and presentations by a range of nationally recognized thought leaders in legal education and the profession.

Panels include:

  • The History of Legal Education
  • Evolution of Bar Admittance
  • Emerging Issues: NextGen Bar, Artificial Intelligence, Distance and Remote Learning
  • Growing and Serving Diversity in Legal Education
  • The Future of Legal Education

The symposium has been approved for free continuing legal education credit. Admission is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Lunch will be provided for registered attendees.

Sponsored by the University of Arkansas School of Law and the Arkansas Law Review.

Schedule of Events

8:30 a.m.- 9:00 a.m.

Check-In

Pastries and coffee will be provided.

9:00 a.m.-9:15 a.m.

Opening Remarks

Blake Morant

9:15 a.m.- 10:15 a.m.

History of Legal Education

Panelists: Benjamin Barton, David Cleveland, and Camille deJorna

10:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Break

10:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m.

Evolution of Bar Admittance

Panelists: Elizabeth Kronk Warner, Brian Gallini and Gordon J. MacDonald

11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Lunch and panel discussion - View from Bench and Bar Conversation

Panelists: Dan Kemp, Kristin Pawlik, and Paulette Brown

Lunch will be provided for all registered attendees.

12:45 p.m.- 1:45 p.m.

Emerging Issues: NextGen Bar, AI, Distance/Remote Ed

Panelists: Judith Gundersen, Daniel Schwarcz, and Adrien Wing

1:45 p.m.-2 p.m.

Break

2 p.m.-3:15 p.m.

Growing and Serving Diversity in Legal Education

Panelists: Katherine Silver Kelly, Nathan Bennett Fleming and Juan Carlos (J.C.) Polanco

3:15 p.m.-3:45 p.m.

Keynote Address, Future of Legal Education

Keynote Speaker: Rachel F. Moran

3:45 p.m.– 4 p.m.

Closing Remarks

Contact

For more information about the symposium, contact:

Lindsay Mast
Symposium Editor, Arkansas Law Review
lm077@uark.edu

Speakers

Rachel F. MoranRachel F. Moran
Professor of Law at the Texas A&M University Law School, former Dean of the UCLA School of Law, and Past President of the Association of American Law Schools

warnerElizabeth Kronk Warner
Jefferson B. & Rita E. Fordham Presidential Dean and Professor of Law at the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah

Alternatives to the bar exam for admission to practice

galliniBrian Gallini
Dean & Professor of Law at Quinnipiac University School of Law

Alternative approaches to legal education and bar admissions

macdonaldGordon J. MacDonald
Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court and Chair of the Committee on Legal Education and Admissions Reform (CLEAR)

The work of the CLEAR – Bar Admissions Working Group

bartonBenjamin Barton
Helen and Charles Lockett Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Tennessee School of Law

Examination of the background of Supreme Court Justices and the need to reboot legal education to increase access to justice.

dejornaCamille deJorna
former Deputy for Legal and Global Higher Education at the Law School Admission Council (LSAC)

Continuing challenges facing women trailblazers, some of the contributions they bring and some solutions to address institutional racism

gundersenJudith Gundersen
President of the National Conference of Bar Examiners

The development and promulgation of the NextGen Bar exam

clevelandDavid Cleveland
Clinical Professor of Law and Director of Research and writing at the University of Minnesota Law School

A long-view context for emerging issues, as well as the historical periods of change in legal education and the legal profession

 

wingAdrien Wing
Associate Dean for International and Comparative Law Programs and Bessie Dutton Murray Professor of Law at the University of Iowa College of Law

Proposed updates to the accreditation standards on distance/remote education

pawlikKristin Pawlik
Partner at Miller Butler Schneider Pawlik & Rozzell PLLC and President of the Arkansas Bar Association

kellyKatherine Silver Kelly
Clinical Professor of Law at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

How law schools can better meet the needs of neurodivergent

flemingNathan Bennett Fleming
Assistant Professor of Law at Wake Forest University School of Law

His research on the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard decision’s impact and appropriate response

morantBlake Morant
Robert Kramer Research Professor of Law and former Dean at the George Washington University Law School and Past President of the Association of American Law Schools

polancoJuan Carlos (J.C.) Polanco
President and CEO of the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) and Managing Attorney and Founder of Polanco Law PLLC

CLEO’s work and the importance of continuing to provide access to law school for underrepresented communities

kempDan Kemp
Chief Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court

brownPaulette Brown
Past President of the American Bar Association

schwarczDaniel Schwarcz
Fredrikson & Byron Professor of Law and Distinguished University Teaching Professor at the University of Minnesota Law School

The use of Artificial Intelligence in legal education and the profession