법학전문대학원 체제에서의 변호사 양성과 법학교육

Abstract

The introduction of the law school system in Korea has not only changed the way we train lawyers, but also how we conduct legal education in general. The law school system is characterized by its educating lawyers via practical legal theories and problem-based learning in its 3-year-course-of-study. Students in the law schools have diverse backgrounds and specializations. However, only 25 universities were permitted to open law schools, and the schools which were denied permission to open law schools are confronted with the problem that their future as independent divisions of law education remains uncertain. Most universities are trying to eliminate undergraduate legal studies due to its ineffectiveness and the uncertainty of its future. Furthermore, the practice of selecting students on the basis of the applicant's academic record, career path, or interviews –as opposed to standardized, objective measures– raises concerns of fairness. Still others question whether this system is appropriate in a civil law context. With the professionalization of law through law schools, the number of people educated in law will diminish as undergraduate colleges of law become fewer. In this context, this paper attempts to discuss effective legal education in colleges in the backdrop of law schools.