The decision to alter the 1L curriculum by adding additional 1L lectures and by having an elective available during the second semester has been quite controversial since it's such a drastic change from the previous curriculum that had slightly fewer lectures and no electives till the second year.
Despite the controversy the Class of 2011 has come out strongly in support of the program.
One section B student explained:
"I really like this new First Year Curriculum program. I feel really sorry for the 2Ls and 3Ls. I mean, a lot of stuff in these lectures were things they have to take in a class for credit during their third year when they aren't busy and stressed. I'm so glad we've got all of this stuff now without getting credit for it, but I'm especially glad they didn't lighten the 1L course load so they could add it in. I really struggle to find enough law school related work to fill the time as it is. I can't imagine what it would be like without all these lectures, or what I'd do to feel productive. I guess I'd just brief everything twice."
Students from other sections agreed with the general sentiment, though they felt that Section B would be better served by getting their act together and actually organizing a bar review than they would by briefing twice.
The lecture series component has, thus far, been extremely valuable to students. A section D 1L who plans on going into corporate law explained the practical career advice he gained from Professor Moriearty despite her lecture's focus on public interest law:
"During that one chick professor's talk about how she ran that clinic in Boulder or Berkeley or something I wasn't really paying attention till she said that thing about the law firm stealing poor people's security deposits 'cause poor folks don't usually have lawyers. I'm glad I caught that, cause man, talk about fish in a barrel. I wonder if there are any firms around here doing that? If not, it should be pretty easy to start one."
Last Friday's lecture wasn't just helpful in providing career ideas, a section A 1L explained that it also eased student's concerns related to stress in the corporate world:
"I realized that being accountable for the people who work for you was actually a noble part of professional responsibility and not an integral part of an executive position paying seven figures. I was really relieved by that because I was worried one of those jobs would be too stressful. Now I know I can just pat myself on the back about being so professional instead of being burdened under the stress."
Despite the widespread support, some 1Ls haven't enjoyed the lecture series, including one Section E student:
"I don't really like the new lectures, but I don't really like classes either. Mostly I miss orientation. Orientation was really good, but I just don't think it was long enough. I mean, how are we supposed to know how to brief cases after only being taught 6 different times? Briefing is hard. And are we really supposed to feel good about ourselves if we've only been told 35 times that we're the smartest and most qualified class the U has ever seen? Minnesota's the best place I got in, and now it's not even a top 20 school. If I don't get constant reassurance otherwise, why wouldn't I think I'm an idiot?"
The Bar Review interviewers felt it best not to let that student know all the morons are put in section E. We really didn't think he could handle it. It's not that we're nice or care about his feelings- it's just that if he got depressed and dropped out of school that would be one less moron below us on the curve.
Section E's dissent aside, it seems that students as a whole appreciate the lecture series. Another section A student seems to sum it up best:
"I love the lecture series. It gives me time each week to play the sims, and I'd feel totally guilty about doing that when I needed to study. Thank goodness the tech people got us upgraded video cards."
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