Legal Education's Mission

This paper explores the liberal commitments of legal education against the requirements of liberal democracy, properly understood. It addresses the distinction between liberal education and training in trade technique, assesses pressures militating against liberal education in law, explores tensions within law faculties (such as the challenges presented by religious and cultural diversity) and considers the potential of attaining "grace through skills training". The paper explores arguments developed by Roger Burridge and Juilan Webb in their scholarship on "The Values of Common Law Legal Education."