Antioch School of Law
Encyclopedia
Antioch School of Law was a law school in Washington, D.C.
which specialized in public advocacy, which now operates as the University of the District of Columbia
David A. Clarke School of Law
.
in 1972 by Edgar S. and Jean Camper Cahn, longtime champions of the legal rights of low-income
and minority persons. The Cahns were also instrumental in establishment of the federal Legal Services Corporation
during the administration of President Lyndon Johnson
. They served as the first deans of the school, and envisioned a law school focused on training highly skilled attorneys dedicated to public interest
advocacy. The school was eventually fully accredited, and operated until 1988.
The School pioneered a comprehensive law clinic education model which has now been acknowledged by the American Bar Association
and the Association of American Law Schools
as being an essential part of a complete legal education
, and has been incorporated to some degree into the curriculum of virtually every law school in the United States
.
The School, in fact, was envisioned as more than a law school - it was to be a public interest law firm
with teacher-lawyers and student-advocates providing pro bono
legal services to the poor and others who were unable to obtain representation. The intent was to create an intense combination of learning and practice. New students also spent their first two weeks at the School living with families in Washington's slums to get a feel for the poor people whom the students would soon be representing. This was part of the School's effort to inculcate a passion to eradicate injustice in society in its students.
From the beginning, Antioch's approach to admissions was far less test-score oriented than most other law schools. The Cahns said they wanted "good" students as well as "bright" ones. They recognized that not only do those who lack a conventional cultural or educational background have the potential to become good lawyers, they often, uniquely, have the motivation and life experiences to become great advocates for change and social justice
. Antioch provided many students an opportunity to attend law school that they probably would not have been afforded otherwise.
In addition to its first professional degree program, which led to the juris doctor
degree, permitting graduates to seek licensure as attorneys in all American jurisdictions, the School also offered an advanced degree program leading to the Masters of Laws (LL.M.) in trial advocacy, which was designed to produce highly skilled trial practitioners. The program's tacit goal was to produce attorneys whose abilities and reputation for aggressiveness were such that potential opposing counsel - generally viewed as corporate lackeys or defenders of the forces of reaction - would be cowed into beneficial compromise by the prospect of facing annihilation in the courtroom at the hands of Antioch alumni.
The law school was run under the auspices of Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, long a pioneer in educational innovation, which, at various points in its history, operated as many as 32 separate entities in several states, as well as abroad. By the early 1980s, however, faced with growing financial challenges, and a diminished interest in its educational approach, Antioch was forced to scale back its operations, and, in 1986, made the difficult decision to close the law school. Some observers have suggested that the law school met its progressive objectives too well, and that its demise, in particular, was hastened by efforts of some of the more reactionary elements within the Reagan administration which targeted elimination legal services for poor people in general. In the winter of 2009, the Chancellor of Antioch University set as a priority the exploration of reopening the Antioch School of Law.
In 1986, after the announcement of the law school's closing, Antioch Law students and alumni mounted a spirited grassroots campaign and ultimately succeeded in convincing the Council of the District of Columbia
to establish the District of Columbia School of Law (DCSL). Though it had no formal connection to Antioch, the DCSL specifically adopted Antioch's mission and curriculum, including the clinical legal education components, employed many of its faculty, and afforded Antioch School of Law alumni full rights as alumni of the new law school. In 1996, the DCSL was absorbed by the University of the District of Columbia
, a traditionally black public institution. Renamed in 1998, what had constituted the first professional degree curriculum of Antioch School of Law now operates as the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
, a fully accredited institution with several hundred students, and with one of the nation's most highly regarded clinical legal education programs.
Initially, the LL.M. in trial advocacy program was adopted as it existed by George Washington University Law School
, and operated under that school's aegis. In the ensuing years, however, the program was gradually diminished, and now exists only in truncated form as a three-credit, six-day offering known as the College of Trial Advocacy, and in various other courses in advanced advocacy skills and dispute resolution
, at George Washington.
Antioch School of Law was located on 16th Street, NW and its law library a block away on Crescent Place, Northwest, in the Adams-Morgan
neighborhood of Washington, D.C., near Meridian Hill Park
.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
which specialized in public advocacy, which now operates as the University of the District of Columbia
University of the District of Columbia
The University of the District of Columbia is a historically black, public university located in Washington, D.C. UDC is one of only a few urban land-grant universities in the country and a member of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
David A. Clarke School of Law
David A. Clarke School of Law
The David A. Clarke School of Law is the law school of the University of the District of Columbia . It is Washington, D.C.'s only public law school.-History:...
.
History
Antioch was established in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1972 by Edgar S. and Jean Camper Cahn, longtime champions of the legal rights of low-income
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
and minority persons. The Cahns were also instrumental in establishment of the federal Legal Services Corporation
Legal Services Corporation
The Legal Services Corporation is a private, non-profit corporation established by the United States Congress. It seeks to ensure equal access to justice under the law for all Americans by providing civil legal assistance to those who otherwise would be unable to afford it...
during the administration of President Lyndon Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
. They served as the first deans of the school, and envisioned a law school focused on training highly skilled attorneys dedicated to public interest
Public interest
The public interest refers to the "common well-being" or "general welfare." The public interest is central to policy debates, politics, democracy and the nature of government itself...
advocacy. The school was eventually fully accredited, and operated until 1988.
The School pioneered a comprehensive law clinic education model which has now been acknowledged by the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
and the Association of American Law Schools
Association of American Law Schools
The Association of American Law Schools is a non-profit organization of 170 law schools in the United States. Another 25 schools are "non-member fee paid" schools, which are not members but choose to pay AALS dues. Its purpose is to improve the legal profession through the improvement of legal...
as being an essential part of a complete legal education
Legal education
Legal education is the education of individuals who intend to become legal professionals or those who simply intend to use their law degree to some end, either related to law or business...
, and has been incorporated to some degree into the curriculum of virtually every law school in the United States
Law school in the United States
In the United States, a law school is an institution where students obtain a professional education in law after first obtaining an undergraduate degree.Law schools in the U.S...
.
The School, in fact, was envisioned as more than a law school - it was to be a public interest law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
with teacher-lawyers and student-advocates providing pro bono
Pro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
legal services to the poor and others who were unable to obtain representation. The intent was to create an intense combination of learning and practice. New students also spent their first two weeks at the School living with families in Washington's slums to get a feel for the poor people whom the students would soon be representing. This was part of the School's effort to inculcate a passion to eradicate injustice in society in its students.
From the beginning, Antioch's approach to admissions was far less test-score oriented than most other law schools. The Cahns said they wanted "good" students as well as "bright" ones. They recognized that not only do those who lack a conventional cultural or educational background have the potential to become good lawyers, they often, uniquely, have the motivation and life experiences to become great advocates for change and social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
. Antioch provided many students an opportunity to attend law school that they probably would not have been afforded otherwise.
In addition to its first professional degree program, which led to the juris doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree, permitting graduates to seek licensure as attorneys in all American jurisdictions, the School also offered an advanced degree program leading to the Masters of Laws (LL.M.) in trial advocacy, which was designed to produce highly skilled trial practitioners. The program's tacit goal was to produce attorneys whose abilities and reputation for aggressiveness were such that potential opposing counsel - generally viewed as corporate lackeys or defenders of the forces of reaction - would be cowed into beneficial compromise by the prospect of facing annihilation in the courtroom at the hands of Antioch alumni.
The law school was run under the auspices of Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, long a pioneer in educational innovation, which, at various points in its history, operated as many as 32 separate entities in several states, as well as abroad. By the early 1980s, however, faced with growing financial challenges, and a diminished interest in its educational approach, Antioch was forced to scale back its operations, and, in 1986, made the difficult decision to close the law school. Some observers have suggested that the law school met its progressive objectives too well, and that its demise, in particular, was hastened by efforts of some of the more reactionary elements within the Reagan administration which targeted elimination legal services for poor people in general. In the winter of 2009, the Chancellor of Antioch University set as a priority the exploration of reopening the Antioch School of Law.
In 1986, after the announcement of the law school's closing, Antioch Law students and alumni mounted a spirited grassroots campaign and ultimately succeeded in convincing the Council of the District of Columbia
Council of the District of Columbia
The Council of the District of Columbia is the legislative branch of the local government of the District of Columbia. As permitted in the United States Constitution, the District is not part of any U.S. state and is instead overseen directly by the federal government...
to establish the District of Columbia School of Law (DCSL). Though it had no formal connection to Antioch, the DCSL specifically adopted Antioch's mission and curriculum, including the clinical legal education components, employed many of its faculty, and afforded Antioch School of Law alumni full rights as alumni of the new law school. In 1996, the DCSL was absorbed by the University of the District of Columbia
University of the District of Columbia
The University of the District of Columbia is a historically black, public university located in Washington, D.C. UDC is one of only a few urban land-grant universities in the country and a member of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
, a traditionally black public institution. Renamed in 1998, what had constituted the first professional degree curriculum of Antioch School of Law now operates as the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
David A. Clarke School of Law
The David A. Clarke School of Law is the law school of the University of the District of Columbia . It is Washington, D.C.'s only public law school.-History:...
, a fully accredited institution with several hundred students, and with one of the nation's most highly regarded clinical legal education programs.
Initially, the LL.M. in trial advocacy program was adopted as it existed by George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School, commonly referred to as GW Law, is the law school of The George Washington University. It was founded in 1825 and is the oldest law school in Washington, D.C. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the...
, and operated under that school's aegis. In the ensuing years, however, the program was gradually diminished, and now exists only in truncated form as a three-credit, six-day offering known as the College of Trial Advocacy, and in various other courses in advanced advocacy skills and dispute resolution
Dispute resolution
Dispute resolution is the process of resolving disputes between parties.-Methods:Methods of dispute resolution include:* lawsuits * arbitration* collaborative law* mediation* conciliation* many types of negotiation* facilitation...
, at George Washington.
Antioch School of Law was located on 16th Street, NW and its law library a block away on Crescent Place, Northwest, in the Adams-Morgan
Adams Morgan
Adams Morgan is a culturally diverse neighborhood in Northwest Washington, D.C., centered at the intersection of 18th Street and Columbia Road. Adams Morgan is considered the center of Washington's Hispanic immigrant community, and is a major night life area with many bars and restaurants,...
neighborhood of Washington, D.C., near Meridian Hill Park
Meridian Hill Park
Meridian Hill Park, is located in the Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Columbia Heights in the United States. The 12 acres of landscaped grounds are maintained by the National Park Service as part of Rock Creek Park, but are not contiguous with the main part of that park...
.