법학전문대학원 교육의 내용과 방법

This essay is based upon an Introduction to the Research Report for Korean Law School Education organized by the Korea Law Professors' Association. The main purpose of this collaborate essay is to fill the gap between the ideal that we need new contents and methods in legal education in the wake of the passage of the Korean Law School Act and the reality that there would be no feasible prospect and agreement in what can be taught and how to teach in a new legal education system. This short essay itself cannot be a resolution to the disarrayed future of Korean Law School education. Its humble concern is to make a starting point for public discussion with regard to the software of the new legal education. In so doing, the authors try to raise four points. Firstly, Korean Law School is not merely a substitution of legal training institute for lawyers. Secondly, legal education in Korean Law School should pursue the better connection between theory and practice in law. Thirdly, although autonomy and competition among law schools is the best way of successful launching of the new system, the minimum requirement for curriculum and educational methods may be suggested in order to accomplish the end of a new legal education system, that is, production of lawyers with reasonable professionality. Fourthly, both consistent financial, institutional support and eagerness of teachers in law school education are vital in developing new contents and methods in legal education.