Theory and Practice in Legal Education: Alfieri's Critique of the Carnegie Foundation Report

Anthony Alfieri (Miami) examines the theory/practice dichotomy in legal education through the prism of the Carnegie Foundation's Educating Lawyers: Preparation for the Profession of Law in his provocative Against Practice [SSRN], 107 Michigan Law Review ___ (April 2009). The article argues:

1. "the Foundation's investigation of law school curricular deficiencies in the areas of clinical-lawyer skills, professionalism, and public service overlooks the relevance of critical pedagogies in teaching students how to deal with difference-based identity and how to build cross-cultural community in diverse, multicultural practice settings;" and
2. "the Foundation's remedial call for the curricular integration of clinical-lawyer practices similarly overlooks the utility of critical pedagogies in teaching students not only how to understand difference, but also how to represent difference-based clients and communities here and abroad."

[JH]