The Need for More "Experiential Education" in Law School.

• Date: 01 March 2023
• Author: Lesser, Gary S.

Did law school prepare you to be a lawyer? It's a serious question.

As I have been traveling all over Florida, speaking to various legal and non-legal groups about the work being done by The Florida Bar to help our legal profession, the court system, and the public we serve, one of my regular talking points is the mentoring program that we are creating and will be rolling out in just a few months.

Wherever I have traveled, I have received strong support of and interest in this mentoring program for newer lawyers with three or less years of experience at firms of three or fewer lawyers. I know this program will have a positive impact on newer lawyers in terms of greater professionalism and legal ability, along with personal and professional growth.

But during my travels, many people have commented to me that they wish that law school did a better job of preparing its graduates for actually practicing law in the real world. Of course, the reality is much more complicated and nuanced. There are law schools that...