To meet the demands of a highly competitive legal marketplace, students at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago are getting advanced training in courtroom and law practice management technology.
The John Marshall Law School has integrated new technological developments to enhance its course delivery process and the coursework itself. From the classroom to the courtroom, John Marshall students are developing the skills and experience prospective employers look for in law school graduates.
“Technology is impacting our laws and changing the practice of law,” says Dean John E. Corkery. “We are preparing our students to be courtroom- and law-office-ready lawyers. The use of technology is critical to that mission.”
This technology initiative started with the Trial Advocacy and Dispute Resolution LLM program.
In the fall of 2011, students in the new Litigation Technology course began using school-furnished iPads. The course, part of the LLM in Trial Advocacy and Dispute Resolution curriculum, is taught by Professor Mark Shlifka, supervisor of the Trial Technology Unit and executive assistant state’s attorney at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
“We’re excited to offer these new technology-based courses to improve the litigation and settlement skills of our students. We’re enormously proud of the group of instructors we’ve assembled for this new LLM program,” said Susann MacLachlan, director of the Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution.
This Litigation Technology course teaches students the skills necessary to practice law in today’s world. John Marshall added a third state-of-the-art courtroom to accommodate this trial class.
“The course is designed to teach the skills attorneys will need to present evidence and make arguments using all forms of digital media,” MacLachlan said.
According to Jim Velco, the school’s chief technology officer, “Law firms are looking for associates to be ready to practice on day one. As part of the law school’s focus on practice ready skills training, it brings in technology experts on a regular basis to demonstrate the latest in law office management software for students.”
