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NewsvineStanford Law School has officially switched from the semester system to the quarter system, in a move similar to that of the University of Chicago Law School. The decision closely follows Law School Dean Larry Kramer’s statement to students that “The Law School faculty has, since last winter, been considering modifying our academic calendar in order to improve our ability to coordinate classes and programs with the rest of the University.”
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Stanford Law School recently decided to switch from the semester system to the quarter system.
The “modified semester” approach includes a variety of administrative adjustments, but primarily consists of altering the fall semester for first-year students so they can take exams before leaving for winter break. It is intended to facilitate better coordination with other parts of the University by having the Law School’s first semester and the University’s fall quarter end at the same time for all students, and by placing the University’s winter quarter entirely within the Law School’s second semester.
“Integrating better with Stanford’s other schools and departments can produce substantial benefits for law students and faculty, as well as for the larger University,” Kramer said. “It will enable our students to obtain a richer and more well-rounded legal education, one that prepares them better for their future careers. It will facilitate joint degrees and research, and it will enable a variety of innovative courses and programs with students and faculty from other parts of campus. If we are on quarters, our students will also gain opportunities to study more subjects and take classes from more of our faculty.”
Reaching this decision took no small measure of time. The Law School Faculty collected data from Stanford and from other schools. Students, alumni and administrators were also consulted and interviewed about the proposed changes. Four faculty meetings were designated to discuss the change. After exploring a variety of options and proposals, the decision finally came down to two choices, switching to the same quarter system as the University, or modifying the semester system in a way that might capture many of the benefits of quarters without losing the benefits of semesters.
At their final meeting, the faculty voted overwhelmingly in favor of a two-step transition to the quarter system, to take place over a four-year period. The transition involves moving to the modified semester system next year (academic year 2006-2007) for a period of three years. A final switch will then be made to the quarter system in the academic year starting in 2009.
“This permits us to fully work out logistical and other issues so as to minimize confusion and transition costs and ensure that the benefits of fuller academic integration are available before we change to quarters,” Kramer explained. “An additional, important advantage is that the three-year transition period will allow us to see how far the modified semester approach goes toward achieving our ends. If, at the end of the transition period, it turns out that modified semesters adequately achieve the benefits sought by calendar reform, the faculty can reevaluate the decision to move to quarters.”
Despite Kramer’s optimism, many law students have reservations about the change to the quarter system.
“I am very concerned that the calendar changes will affect summer internships and preparation for the Bar exam,” said second-year law student and Graduate student council Co-chair Jenny Allen. “Internships typically begin mid-May; with a quarter system, Stanford Law School students will not be able to start their internship programs until mid-June. SLS interns will have a more difficult time bonding with interns that started together in May and may also have a shortened internship experience, depending on the specific program’s flexibility. And with law firm intern salaries over $2,000 per week, the loss of a month’s work is very unappealing. In addition, the bar exam is given at the end of July. A SLS student graduating in June will be at a disadvantage compared to a law student who can begin focusing full time on the bar exam after graduation in May.”