By Sandee Magliozzi, Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Professional Development and Externships
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n a climate of industry changes and client demands to deliver value faster, better, and cheaper, a competency model approach has emerged as a valuable tool for developing legal talent. Although competency development is not new, a competency model approach to law practice and particularly legal education has only recently gained traction. Santa Clara Law is among a small group of law schools leading the way by articulating competencies and adopting a model to guide students in preparing for practice. “Today’s lawyers need to be problem solvers, team builders, and strong communicators,” says Julia Yaffee, Senior Assistant Dean for External Affairs and member of the Santa Clara Law Curriculum Committee that has created the Law School’s competency model. “We are focusing on enabling our students to develop these key skills while in law school through a variety of means, including classroom instruction, experiential learning—such as moot court and externships—and community service— such as our legal clinics.” Simply, competencies are observable knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors critical to successful performance. A competency model is a collection of competencies that together define the elements of that performance. It is an effective approach because it articulates and makes transparent how students need to prepare for rapidly changing practice settings as employers seek graduates who are efficient, productive, cost effective, and capable. By providing an overarching frame for success, a competency model creates links between the components of the curriculum and law practice, and perhaps most importantly, creates a foundation and a road map for students. Santa Clara Law’s Competency Model Santa Clara Law’s Curriculum Committee undertook a process to create a competency model that includes competencies covered in doctrinal class and additional competencies identified as those necessary to be a good lawyer by the California State Bar and alumni practitioners. A well designed competency model will: assist Santa Clara Law in articulating learning outcomes for students; provide a way to systematically review curricula; support and guide students in tracking their skills development; identify clearly for each student the importance of individual professional development; and • provide a basis for ongoing conversations and communication with prospective employers regarding their expectations of graduates.
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spring 2014 | santa clara law 9