LOCAL LEGENDS
Four lead guitarists throughout Lincoln share their inspiration, struggles PAGE 5 tuesday, november 29, 2011
volume 111, issue 066
DAILY NEBRASKAN
act dailynebraskan.com
BALANCING UNL’s law school provides students with mix of theory, practical application
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aw school graduation doesn’t necessarily mean young lawyers have the ability to serve clients from the outset and legal theory-heavy law school curriculum is to blame, according to a recent article in The New York Times. But Susan Poser, dean of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Law, said law schools like UNL’s have upheld their end of the legal education bargain and continue to offer more practical instruction in addition to the basic problemsolving coursework law schools were founded upon. The recent economic downturn flipped the standard lawyer education chain on its head, she said, and law firms have looked to law schools to do more. But, Poser said, there’s a time-crunch in play. “We only have three years,” she said. In the past, many juris doctorate recipients would start their postgraduate careers at law firms in virtual apprenticeships. Those law firms would pass the training bill onto their clients, Poser said.
story by riley johnson | art by bryan klopping
When many corporations tightened their finances, they told law firms to keep first-year or second-year associate training off
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ASUN hosts town hall for grad students
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their bills, according to a survey by the American Lawyer. But law schools have felt the
pressure to increase lawyer-skills instruction, which Poser said has illuminated the importance of providing specialty opportunities. But, to Poser, law schools can only do so much. “At some point we need to resist the pressure because it’s going to start taking away from the fundamental skills we need to be teaching students,” she said. At law school’s core, it’s a place to learn how to think analytically and solve problems, Poser said. In addition to critical-thinking skills, students are taught how the legal system works, as well as “substantive” areas of the law, such as the Constitution, tax law and evidence. The UNL College of Law, like law schools across the country, uses the case-method — the preferred law school instruction method since the 1870s — that focuses on logic and theory through court case examination, not practice. Law school isn’t like medical school where they teach you “how
law: see page 3
ASUN
Frannie SProuls Daily Nebraskan
The Association of Students of the University of Nebraska and the UNL Graduate Student Association are hosting a graduate student town hall meeting Tuesday night. The meeting will be at 8 p.m. in the Nebraska Union Georgian Room. “It’s going to be an opportunity for graduate students to meet our graduate senators and meet our graduate student task force,” said ASUN President Lane Carr, a senior political science and history major. The meeting will begin with a brief overview and an introduction of the panel members, said ASUN senator Sylvia Jons, an educational administration graduate student. Jons, who heads the newly-created graduate student task force, will lead the meeting. One of the presenters is Jared Leighton, GSA vice chair for internal affairs and a history graduate student. Leighton will give a quick presentation of the graduate student survey that was
conducted earlier in the year, Jons said. “(Carr) will talk about ASUN and how they serve graduate students,” Jons said. “I think he or someone else from CFA (the Committee for Fee Allocations). I think student fees are a big issue.” After the presentations, the rest of the meeting will be up for graduate students to fill with any questions or concerns. Carr said the town hall is a great opportunity for graduate students to bring up any issues and new ways ASUN can help them. “A lot of times, we don’t hear the graduate student voice,” Carr said. Carr and Jons are hoping for 50 graduate students to attend the meeting. “It’s going to be very interesting,” Jons said. “This is something that should give us insight on how to serve graduate students on campus.”
franniesprouls@ dailynebraskan.com
call
nature’s
Bob Dreesen takes a drink on his bike ride around Holmes Lake on Monday afternoon. He said he waits to head out before sunset to see the beautiful sky change.
keyes page 4
music page 6
football page 10
Weather | sunny
ACE missing agriculture
Thank you very much
Rex appeal
opinion series continues with addition to gen eds
Elvis impersonator to honor king’s legacy at Bourbon
Burkhead pushes teammates with strength, skill
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