Building the Whole Lawyer: Preparing Students for Entry-Level Success Courtney Q. Brooks
Multi-year project designed to: Identify the foundations entry-level lawyers need to launch successful careers; Develop measurable models of legal education that support those foundations; and Align market needs with hiring practices to incentivize positive improvements.
ETL asked: “What makes a new lawyer successful?”
Survey included 147 “Foundations”
Respondents indicated that 76% of the foundations classified as “characteristics” are necessary right out of law school. The rest can wait. . . While respondents felt most legal skills and professional competencies could develop over time, characteristics were deemed vital from the start.
KEY FINDING: New lawyers need more than “IQ” and “EQ” to be successful They need “CQ” “Character Quotient”
Essential characteristics honoring commitments; integrity and trustworthiness; diligence; strong work ethic; attention to detail; conscientiousness; common sense; intelligence; strong moral compass; and energy
Top 10 Foundations Categorized as Necessary in the Short Term
“The Whole Lawyer” Blend of: Legal skills Professional competencies Characteristics
How can externship faculty help build the “whole lawyer?” How can we teach and assess these characteristics and competencies? Should we?