Navigating Troubled Seas: the future of the Law School in the United Kingdom and the United States

Legal education in both the United Kingdom and the United States has faced troubled waters in recent years. With a decrease in employment opportunities for lawyers, rising expenses in legal education and unceasing critiques from the practicing bar, law schools in both countries have worked to revamp their curriculum to meet these new challenges. This article outlines some of the legal education reforms implemented in these two countries. In some areas, the reforms match in goals and methods, but in others, they diverge. Ultimately, these changes add insight into the nature and identity of the legal professional itself. This article ends with comparative observations about the direction of legal education in both countries.