National Law Journal Features W&L Third Year Program

Dean of Law School Praises Gentry Locke for Piloting the Program

The Washington and Lee School of Law Third Year Externship Program, which provides third-year law students with real-world practical experience under the guidance of licensed attorneys, was featured in the Sept. 7 issue of The National Law Journal. Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore Managing Partner, Mike Pace, was instrumental in creating the semester-long program for second and third year law students based on a curriculum adopted by W&L in 2007.

In an article titled "Reality's Knocking," The National Law Journal outlines several new initiatives throughout the country that are preparing students with business-ready skills in the face of the changing economic landscape. According to the article, "several legal educators view Washing­ton and Lee's approach as the boldest move in legal curriculum reform in recent years." Through the W&L program, students are given the opportunity to exercise the lessons learned in school by providing real-world problem solving in a working environment.

Rodney A. Smolla, Dean of W&L School of Law commented on the NLJ article, recognizing Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore for its role in the launch of the school's new Third Year Externship curriculum by saying:

"Gentry Locke's participation in Washington and Lee's new third year curriculum has been extraordinary. Gentry Locke was ‘present at the creation,' as the first Virginia Law firm to volunteer in one of the initial pilot programs to create a realistic educational law-firm experience for law students, involving a blend of activities at the law school and within the firm. The leadership at Gentry Locke was instrumental in encouraging Washington and Lee to launch its new program, and in helping the Law School creatively engage members of the profession in the design of high-quality simulated and actual legal practice experience designed to develop a young lawyer's core competencies in teamwork, problem-solving, the exercise of judgment, and professionalism. Gentry Locke is now building on that initial effort, by offering this course for a fourth semester as part of the formal launch of our complete new third-year program in the academic year 2009-10. The firm's generous pro-bono efforts have been a great service to Washington and Lee, and by extension, to the profession and the public, in this bold pioneering effort to make the third year of law school a year-long program of intense preparation for entry into the practice of law, in the highest traditions of professionalism and public service."

To read the article in The National Law Journal click here.