LAW 595 - Citizen Lawyers

In 1779, Thomas Jefferson got the William & Mary Law School started. His goal was to train citizen lawyers - people who would be good citizens and leaders in their communities, states and nation, as well as good lawyers. This course will examine whether Jefferson’s model continues to represent an achievable “life’s work” for lawyers in the 21st century. We will look at the different roles traditionally played by lawyers in the United States; the extent to which lawyers have provided community, state and federal leaders for all sorts of venues, public and private; reasons why legal training and experience so well equip lawyers for leadership; and the nature of today’s societal distate for lawyers and what might be done to restore a more balanced view. The course will include practical advice for fledgling lawyers.