Penn State Gearing Up For Two Law Schools

University of Iowa College of Law

Viva La Iowa Bar!

 
The impending decision on the Iowa bar was a topic in last week’s roundup. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled at the end of last week that the bar is here to stay for all Iowa law students. Many attorneys, professors and students were advocating for the Iowa Supreme Court to create a diploma privilege for students graduating from the state’s two law schools—The University of Iowa and Drake University. Alas, all students will have to take the bar to practice in Iowa.
In a Des Moines Register article about the decision, Guy Cook, a Des Moines attorney and former president of the Iowa State Bar Association, said the proposal was intended to strengthen the level of competency for Iowa lawyers instead of simply making it easier to be a lawyer in Iowa. Wisconsin is the only state with such a practice.
One thing both proponents and critics seem to agree on is a need for change to the test and process. Both sides believe the test is imperfect and there should be a change for students who are waiting from July to September for results to secure a job. Sure, Iowa could rid of the test like Wisconsin. Or try bumping up the exam to say, February, like Arizona. Or join the 14 other states in the uniform bar exam. Or they could create something completely new.
As another Register piece states, this is not an end. It is the beginning of an important discussion. Iowa could take this opportunity to develop something that will change how attorneys begin to practice. The Iowa Board of Law Examiners has a report due to the Iowa Supreme Court by March 31 that should outline how the current structure can be changed to include “greater efficiency, expedition, economy, and utility for the applicants for admission.”
What an opportunity. Let’s see what you have, Iowa.
Sources: Des Moines Register and Des Moines Register
 

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Source: Harvard Law

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