LL.M. update: thoughts on graduate credit for "life experience"

Friends:

I was preparing for tomorrow's tutorial on the public policy concerns surrounding the common law practice of plea bargaining.

I realized that, though I have devoted years to criminal practice, some prosecution, some appellate, some habeas corpus but mostly trial defense, this subject is forcing me to look at the whole area from a completely different angle.

Now if I had received "credit for life or professional experience" instead of being required to go through the ACADEMIC process, I would have received credit that would not in fact have been equivalent.

I can't generalize, of course, but I do think that my experience tends to support those who say that there should be little or no credit for life experience at the graduate level.

Thoughts?

 

Qualified agreement--it probably is field-dependent. There are few fields in my experience where the practice of a profession is so different from the study thereof as law.

With the exception of appellate work, where the research and brief preparation is something like Law Review (which I unfortunately didn't experience personally), my experience has been that the practice of law is far afield from law school theory. Other fields may be far more closely related to clinical practice.

 

Where are you admitted?

 

Already finished years ago. Just J.D. no LL.M.

Admitted in Minnesota.

 

I miss your old governor.

 

On election night, when he was first informed that he was shockingly projected to win against Skip Humphrey (the last hurrah of the Humphrey dynasty in Minnesota) and now-Senator Norm Coleman, the mics and cameras were shoved in his face and he was asked: "What do you plan to do as governor?" His answer: "I don't know." Classic, reminded me of Redford in "The Candidate".

He ended up doing alright for himself, it wasn't the worst administration in Minnesota history, although the acrimony with both major parties and the press was legendary--he issued the press badges required for gubernatorial news conferences, printed on them were the words "Media Jackal" above a cartoon of a leering jackal.

He was great for entertainment, and not the worst leader, just a bit--er--unconventional.

 

Well, but he made it possible for men everywhere to wear the feathered boa as a fashion statement!

I, for one, will be forever in his debt.

 

Ah, now I understand why you chose UoL. The boa must go stunningly with your new wig!

 

Yes, and the gown is black patent leather!