Necessary, But Not Sufficient

Everyone knows that law school isn’t a cakewalk. But for students at Harvard Law School (HLS), genuine dissatisfaction was the rule rather than the exception. In the wake of such strong student discontent, the University commissioned a study by McKinsey & Co.—the results of which were released last year—to find ways to improve the law school experience. A recent initiative responding to that study attempts to address major issues for students, but in some areas, the program does not go far enough.

McKinsey reportedly recommended that HLS refocus its programs on basic educational issues, hire more faculty, revamp its regressive grading system and improve quality of life. The new initiative, the brainchild of HLS Dean Robert C. Clark, addresses the first two of these concerns.

The initiative places each first-year in a college of approximately 80 students, with whom they will share their introductory courses and common faculty. (Formerly, first-years were in sections with 140 students.) By slashing the size of classes and hiring 15 new professors, HLS should be able to construct a more intimate, interactive environment that fosters mentoring relationships between students and faculty. Additionally, the master of each college will teach a first-year course, further strengthening administrative ties to first-years.

However, the program does not address many student concerns. Because the college system ends after the first year, its provisions for advising will not help second- and third-year law students. Moreover, the initiative does not address what many consider to be some of the most pressing problems at the law school: an inadequate social life, a lack of non-academic advising, and a fiercely competitive grading system. Despite the plan’s provisions for increased student space, many students are still concerned about quality-of-life at the law school. HLS has not decided whether the new plan will provide greater personal and professional advising. And since a proposal to revamp HLS’ grading system was defeated last year, there has been no movement in this area beyond a recommended grading curve. The current system of narrow grading tiers creates an extremely stressful and competitive environment and allows for wide discrepancies in grading standards between the different sections, and law schools with fewer levels of demarcation have been praised as fostering a better learning environment.

Additionally, because neither the McKinsey report nor the text of the strategic plan have been fully released to the public, we do not know what other recommendations were made but never implemented.

While the college system will be instituted next year, many of the more expensive changes—expanding financial aid, hiring faculty, increasing and renovating space on campus—will require significant fundraising. Hopefully, alums remembering their harried HLS careers will be willing to donate money in order to make a tangible improvement for future students. Raising this money will surely take time; we understand that HLS will be required to implement these changes gradually.

But in instituting this proposal HLS should not forget that large issues remain to be addressed. Law students should be encouraged by this proposal, but HLS should listen to students’ other complaints and attempt to remedy them as well. In adding space and improving the first-year experience, HLS is on the right track, but it should not rest on its laurels.