Law School Considered Harmful

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: W Craig Trader <craig () trader name>
Date: June 11, 2007 11:28:27 AM EDT
To: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: Law School Considered Harmful

For IP, if you wish ...

Study determines that Law School produces ... lawyers.

http://psp.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/33/6/883

Understanding the Negative Effects of Legal Education on Law  
Students: A Longitudinal Test of Self-Determination Theory

Kennon M. Sheldon, University of Missouri-Columbia
Lawrence S. Krieger, Florida State University

ABSTRACT

Longitudinal studies suggest that law school has a corrosive effect  
on the well-being, values, and motivation of students, ostensibly  
because of its problematic institutional culture. In a 3-year study  
of two different law schools, the authors applied self-determination  
theory's (SDT) dynamic process model of thriving to explain such  
findings. Students at both schools declined in psychological need  
satisfaction and well-being over the 3 years. However, student  
reports of greater perceived autonomy support by faculty predicted  
less radical declines in need satisfaction, which in turn predicted  
better well-being in the 3rd year and also a higher grade point  
average, better bar exam results, and more self-determined motivation  
for the first job after graduation. Institution-level analyses showed  
that although students at both schools suffered, one school was  
perceived as more controlling than the other, predicting greater  
difficulties for its students. Implications for SDT and for legal  
education are discussed.

From the introduction:

"The popular notion that law school is an exceptionally stressful  
experience for many students has been substantiated by longitudinal  
studies ...  Indeed, the emotional distress of law students appears  
to significantly exceed that of medical students and at times to  
approach that of psychiatric populations ...  These findings have  
substantial human and social significance, given that the level of  
adjustment of graduating law students is likely to carry over into  
professional practice and may set the stage for the unparalleled  
frequency of psychological distress ... and other problems seen  
broadly among lawyers today ...

"Legal commentators have suggested several basic features of  
contemporary legal education that may contribute to these problems.   
These features include overvaluing theoretical scholarship and  
undervaluing the teaching function ..., employing generally unsound  
teaching and testing methods ..., and emphasizing abstract theory  
rather than providing practical training ...
"Observers further suggest that such priorities and processes train  
students to ignore their own values and moral sense, undermine  
students' sense of identity and self-confidence, and create  
cynicism...  These commentaries, taken together, suggest that the  
normative faculty and institutional practices may thwart the needs  
and preferences of typical law students."

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