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Name of Concept: RIT School of Law
Overview:
The Upstate New York region - specifically the Rochester area - is need of a Law School, and not just any Law School, but one that would foster the part-time pursuit of this career. Often Law School requires working experience prior to admission as well as practice; however, it often becomes a difficult, if not impossible, choice to leave one's current employer in pursuit of a possible career in law. I am aware that St. John Fisher has put a bid in for a Law School, but nothing seems to be happening with that bid. And, I believe that because RIT is a premiere institution in this area, we would be better suited to provide that service and it would round out the type of offerings that we provide.
How this idea leverages current areas of RIT expertise:
Our technology (engineering as well as medical sciences) as well as business curriculum's are already highly regarded. A Law School could serve to advance the graduates of these programs into a the next chapter of their careers.
Are you aware of another university that is working on a similar idea? If yes, which one?
St John Fisher College
Why you believe RIT has a unique opportunity or an ability to differentiate itself through this idea:
By offering a part-time option, which is not offered by any of the surrounding Law Schools but is popular with the most prestigious of law schools would set us apart and service a population not served elsewhere in close proximity.
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2 commentaires
Utilisateur inconnu (rregsm) dit :
Worse than bad idea. The world has plenty of third tier law schools and does not need another.
RIT should stick to its strengths. A law school would not be one of them.
Donna Cullen dit :
RIT's strengths in the fields of criminal justice, computing, business, imaging, photography, engineering, biotechnology, etc. are exciting complements to the law. A void exists in the law profession - lawyers who understand the technology that they seek to protect are rare. As a result, some onerous laws have been enacted essentially without regard to how the technologies work. The intellectual property of some industries is protected far beyond the timeframe that might prove to be a blossoming of productivity and enhancement - stifling economic growth while other countries are free to build on a foundation of innovation. As some might recall, Dr. Destler strongly urged RIT entrepreneurs to consider innovation-encouraging protections - low cost licensing and creative commons protections for examples - so that RIT would be encouraging innovation and creativity. Having such liberal protections be the law of the land speaks to having technology savvy attorneys and legislators. Partnering with UofR could lead to a program that reaches into medical law as well as RIT's strengths. RIT has a relationship with the mayor and with local law enforcement that provides opportunities for using some of the restorative justice techniques championed by the criminal justice program and the Office of Student Conduct in the community to address many of the issues facing the courts and communities of the US.
A host of colleagues have chosen to leave RIT to pursue law degrees - when their wish was to stay connected to RIT while furthering their education in the law as it was tied to their primary field of study. It is time to have a Rochester law school - RIT taking the lead will help ensure the school is geared toward educating lawyers around the fields that have become the strengths of RIT. Ideally it will lead to technologically astute lawyers in the local, state and supreme courts as well as legislative bodies.