Shaping the Bar: The Future of Attorney Licensing

The book "Shaping the Bar" by Joan Howarth argues that attorney licensing should be focused on readiness to practice law with the minimum competence of a new attorney, and that the current system is failing the public by protecting members of the profession more than the public. It presents the latest research on competent lawyering and examples of better approaches and presents the path forward by means of licensing changes to protect the public while building an inclusive, diverse, competent, ethical profession.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 22 November 2022
Publisher: Stanford University Press

The comprehensive guide to attorney licensing and its reform is presented in Shaping the Bar by Joan Howarth. She highlights the failure of the legal profession's twin gatekeepers, law schools, and licensers, to serve the public effectively. Howarth argues that attorney licensing should prioritize readiness to practice law with a minimum level of competence, rather than being overly difficult or lenient. The current system, she claims, fails to adequately test the skills of law school graduates, disproportionately affecting people of color. After seven years of education, significant debt, and passing a bar exam, candidates can be licensed without having any practical experience or interaction with clients.

Howarth argues that the traditional licensing rituals, such as unfocused law degrees and outdated bar exams, prioritize the interests of the profession over the public's safety. She presents the latest research on competent lawyering and offers examples of better approaches. The book aims to provide a roadmap for reform by proposing licensing changes that prioritize the public's protection while fostering an inclusive, diverse, competent, and ethical profession.

Shaping the Bar is a thoughtful and engaging book that offers both an authoritative account of attorney licensing and a practical handbook for overdue equitable reform. It provides valuable insights into the challenges facing the legal profession and offers practical solutions to address them. By advocating for a more focused and rigorous licensing process, this book contributes to the development of a more accountable and responsible legal system.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503613560