“The Can’t Do Generation?” Can’t work, can’t think on their own, can’t take negative criticism, can’t proofread, can’t write. See Carolyn Elefant’s article “Law School Lacks the Write Stuff” at Legal Blog Watch.
Well, so what if it’s true? We’ll skip a generation, and get things done on our own in the meantime. Boomers, look, if you went through life without one decent political issue, were told you were ultra-talented when you weren’t, got trophies for breathing, were taught not to trust employers, missed the sexual revolution, and then had to go on dates wearing a hazmat suit, you’d think by the time you got to law school that semi-literacy was a very minor problem, too.
Law schools: we haven’t given up on, and still invest in, your students, and we put them to work right away–so can you teach them to do the few practical things we can use on Day One? (1) Research intelligently. (2) Write economically and clearly. (3) Proofread like life depended on it. Note: This does seem to be catching on with better firms–see the occasional shrill and unforgiving comment by associates at Above The Law thrown at smart, hardworking, mega-credentialed Elie Mystal. (4) Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions. (5) Think on one’s own, or at least experiment with it. (6) Organize data, your project, your life and your job at least as well as a third-rate legal secretary just out of rehab for nitrous oxide.
Schools, help us out here. Earn the money kids pay you. If you would do a little real world training, we’d be happier about paying for what you’re sending our way.
M.G. Krebs: Hero of the Slackeoisie
Things they do look awful c-c-cold/Hope I die before I get old.