The legal academy and higher education are in a volatile era of uncertain transitions; market and technology pressures; fundamental reforms; and competing visions, all while the rule of law, democracy, and access to justice require vital, vigilant advocacy from excellent ethical lawyers and law professors. Clinical professors have been engaged on the front lines of these movements and disruptions for generations and are leading voices for the present and future of legal education. Clinicians have well-honed skills and experience in teaching, scholarship, administration, development, and advocacy, and the insights of clinical legal education are at the forefront of the most significant reforms in legal education in a century. Thus, now more than ever, clinical professors are necessary and useful to the leadership of law schools and universities. This workshop aims to equip and improve the work of clinical professors presently in leadership roles and to cultivate and encourage clinical professors to pursue and grasp opportunities for leadership in their programs and schools.
This workshop has a broad vision and two principal goals. First, the workshop will offer insight, ideas, reflections, and critical tools to improve the work of current leaders and administrators in clinical programs and law schools. Second, the workshop will offer guidance, encouragement, and advice to clinical professors who aspire to these leadership positions.
The workshop will have three sessions that will address the work of and paths into leadership and administration in three contexts: (1) leadership as a clinical and externship program director; (2) leadership as an associate dean; and (3) leadership as a dean of a law school. The workshop will focus on each context for an hour, with breaks between each. Each hour will include discussion from a small panel of experienced leaders and ample time for reflective discussion and questions.