Law School Innovation Program
Pioneering education innovations.
Preparing students for practice.
Bloomberg Law is on a mission to identify, recognize, and connect law school faculty, staff and administrators who are pioneering educational innovations that benefit their students, their schools, and the legal field. Through the Law School Innovation Program, we seek to acknowledge these innovators while raising overall awareness of innovation in legal education.
The evaluators for the Law School Innovation Program include practicing attorneys, legal tech and legal operations professionals, in-house counsel, and Bloomberg Law experts who have worked with and alongside law firms, businesses, and academic and professional institutions.
Industry Experts
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Connie Brenton
Vice President, Strategy, Technology and Operations
NetApp
Connie Brenton is a legal industry pioneer. She founded and was the former CEO of CLOC (Corporate Legal Operations Consortium) and has helped define the role of Legal Operations. Connie serves as Vice President, Strategy, Technology and Operations at NetApp. Connie helped create an innovative and award-winning legal department that is recognized internationally for its pioneering work in the areas of strategic planning and digital optimization, leveraging data in every aspect of service delivery. Along with global experts, she released the industry Legal Metrics Portal. She is a co-founder and President of LegalOps.com, a platform where Legal ecosystem members come together to learn and flourish. Connie publishes on the topics of collaboration, the changing legal ecosystem and legal operations. She speaks internationally on the topic of “Running Legal Like a Business.” Her awards include Women in Influence Lifetime Achievement award, GC Power List, Corporate Counsel’s National Women in Law, 100 Women of Influence in Silicon Valley and the Top 10 Deputy General Counsel.
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Amanda Brown
Founder and Executive Director
Lagniappe Law Lab
Amanda Brown is the founder and executive director of Lagniappe Law Lab. She is the chair of the Louisiana’s Access to Justice Commission’s technology subcommittee, and is a member of the Legal Service Corporation’s Emerging Leaders Council. She is also active in the American Bar Association, serving as the Director of the Young Lawyer Division’s Disaster Legal Services Program, and is a member of the ABA Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services. Before starting Lagniappe Law Lab in 2019, Amanda was a legal technology consultant for the Louisiana Bar Foundation on its statewide triage portal, the Louisiana Civil Legal Navigator. Prior to that, she served as the inaugural Microsoft NextGen Fellow for the American Bar Association’s Center for Innovation, and was a disaster recovery attorney at Southeast Louisiana Legal Services. She is a proud ABA LTRC Woman of Legal Tech and a 2022 Fastcase 50 honoree.
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Kim Craig
Co-Founder
Bold Duck Studio
Kim has spent her career leading change within the legal industry in meaningful, profound ways. She’s been a tireless advocate and leader for modernization and systemic improvements of legal operations and legal service delivery. She is a recognized pioneer breaking ground and pushing the status quo by introducing and embedding project management and lean six sigma into legal teams and organizations. Kim has been recognized by clients and competitors alike for her groundbreaking achievements and has received several awards for driving innovation within the industry. She is the co-founder of Bold Duck Studio, a business design agency that specializes in legal service innovation and strategy. She has consulted with and trained hundreds of lawyers and business professionals from BigLaw, Mid and Small Law, Inhouse Legal Teams, Legal Ops, as well as Legal Aid Organizations and law schools. Kim is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMI) and Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering).
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David Cunningham
Chief Innovation Officer
Reed Smith LLP
David is the Chief Innovation Officer of global law firm Reed Smith. He guides the firm in thoughtful review of modern legal service delivery models, working to create a firm that is driven by the value it can measure and provide to its clients and employees. He is helping to define how a firm should evolve and tune itself to meet the broadening business and risk expectations of GCs. He is currently growing the team to design and lead long-term initiatives in data-driven decisions, business process re-engineering, workforce optimization, and client services.
He is also the founder of Legal Metrics, a tech company automating and benchmarking data-driven ‘legal ops’ and diversity metrics, which is now led by Sara Lord and team. He has interviewed over 100 legal department and law firm leaders to maintain a broad and unique understanding of the business performance, value, and diversity expectations for the future of the legal market.
He was previously the CIO of Winston & Strawn, where he was responsible for creating and sustaining a competitive edge with technology, data, and improved processes. Before joining Winston, he was a Managing Director of Hildebrandt Baker Robbins (now HBR Consulting), leading the technology strategy and risk practices. Over 20 years, he worked with 200 US and UK/European firms.
He is also the founder of Legal Metrics, a tech company automating and benchmarking data-driven ‘legal ops’ and diversity metrics, which is now led by Sara Lord and team. He has interviewed over 100 legal department and law firm leaders to maintain a broad and unique understanding of the business performance, value, and diversity expectations for the future of the legal market.
He was previously the CIO of Winston & Strawn, where he was responsible for creating and sustaining a competitive edge with technology, data, and improved processes. Before joining Winston, he was a Managing Director of Hildebrandt Baker Robbins (now HBR Consulting), leading the technology strategy and risk practices. Over 20 years, he worked with 200 US and UK/European firms.
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Ron Flagg
President
Legal Services Corporation
Ronald Flagg was appointed President of the Legal Services Corporation effective February 20, 2020, and previously served as Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel since 2013. He previously practiced commercial and administrative litigation at Sidley Austin LLP for 31 years, 27 years as a partner. He chaired the firm’s Committee on Pro Bono and Public Interest Law for more than a decade.
Flagg served as president of the District of Columbia Bar in 2010-2011 and currently serves as Chair of the Bar’s Pro Bono Task Force and on the Board of the DC Bar Foundation. He previously also served as Chair of the Board of the National Veterans Legal Services Program, Chair of the District of Columbia Bar Pro Bono Center, Chair of the Board of the AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly, and as a member of the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates, the Board of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, and the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission.
Flagg graduated with honors from the University of Chicago and cum laude from Harvard Law School. He began his career as a law clerk to Judge Myron L. Gordon, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and as attorney-advisor in the United States Department of Justice, Office of Intelligence Policy.
Flagg served as president of the District of Columbia Bar in 2010-2011 and currently serves as Chair of the Bar’s Pro Bono Task Force and on the Board of the DC Bar Foundation. He previously also served as Chair of the Board of the National Veterans Legal Services Program, Chair of the District of Columbia Bar Pro Bono Center, Chair of the Board of the AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly, and as a member of the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates, the Board of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, and the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission.
Flagg graduated with honors from the University of Chicago and cum laude from Harvard Law School. He began his career as a law clerk to Judge Myron L. Gordon, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and as attorney-advisor in the United States Department of Justice, Office of Intelligence Policy.
FAQs
We look forward to receiving your applications for our Law School Innovation Program. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions that you may find helpful.
About the Program / Law School Eligibility
Yes, law schools must be ABA-Approved and U.S.-based to apply.
Innovation in the context of law schools is broad, but usually includes teaching and training methods that diverge from the traditional doctrinal legal curriculum and help to further student learning and career preparation. Innovation provides students with opportunities to succeed in today’s ever-changing legal profession by furnishing them with new information and ways to address both recent and longstanding obstacles and issues in the legal field.
This year’s Law School Innovation Program is inspired by the NextGen bar exam and the introduction of the Foundational Skills it will assess:
- Investigation and Evaluation
- Client Counseling and Advising
- Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
- Client Relationship and Management
- Issue Spotting and Analysis*
- Legal Research*
- Legal Writing*
*Programs which focus on these skills must go beyond what has traditionally been taught in legal education, such as 1L legal research and writing courses.
For purposes of this application, the term “Innovation” refers to the new/novel/unique approach to legal instruction the school has created, including but not limited to a: (1) teaching technique; (2) skill-based course; (3) experiential learning program; (4) modern technology; (5) training method; (6) integrated instruction methodology; or (7) alternate innovative approach that fosters student learning and career preparation by developing at least one “Foundational Skill”. The Innovation should provide students with opportunities to succeed in today’s ever-changing legal profession by furnishing them with current information and ways to address both recent and longstanding obstacles and issues in the legal field.
Yes, Innovations that were submitted for the 2022 Law School Innovation Program, including those that were chosen as finalists, are eligible for the 2023 Law School Innovation Program, as long as they focus on developing any or all of the seven foundational skills mentioned above.
In late 2023, we will select a group of finalists to honor in early 2024. However, application rankings or scores will not be announced.
A panel of practicing attorneys, recent law school graduates, law school faculty and staff, and experts from Bloomberg Law will review and evaluate applications in order to determine how well the Innovations meet the stated criteria in the application. We will be evaluating what schools have done to change or improve the way law is taught by looking at both the content (what they are teaching) and the method (how they are teaching it).
Some of the benefits for finalists include: promotion in Bloomberg Law articles and on the Law School Innovation Program’s website, promotion on Bloomberg Law’s social media, a Law School Innovation Program finalist badge that can be displayed on the school’s website and marketing materials, among other benefits.
Additional networking opportunities, including participation in webinars and forums, and other benefits will be announced, as applicable.
Additional networking opportunities, including participation in webinars and forums, and other benefits will be announced, as applicable.
Submitting Your Program
Applications will be accepted from June 1, 2023, through September 18, 2023, at 8 pm.
The application is divided into three sections: (1) General Intake, (2) Scored Prompts, (3) Supplemental Materials. Within Scored Prompts, there are three separate questions. While some information may be repeated in multiple sections, only the responses included in the Scored Prompts will be used to determine the score of the Innovation.
Applications and supplemental materials must be submitted via Qualtrics. Applications submitted via email will not be considered. If you have any issues with the application portal, please direct questions to innovation@bloombergindustry.com.
Bloomberg Law takes extensive measures to protect and secure your personal information and company data. Data is collected through Qualtrics Labs, Inc. (“Qualtrics”). For more information about Qualtrics’s security practices, see here. For information on their handling of personal information please see their Privacy Statement here.
All data files submitted in applications will be downloaded and stored securely on servers owned by Bloomberg Industry Group and its corporate affiliates. For more information on how Bloomberg Industry Group handles personal information please see our Privacy Policy. Only verified and invited users may access the data.
All data files submitted in applications will be downloaded and stored securely on servers owned by Bloomberg Industry Group and its corporate affiliates. For more information on how Bloomberg Industry Group handles personal information please see our Privacy Policy. Only verified and invited users may access the data.
We ask that applicants refrain from including confidential information in their applications. While we will not publicly release or distribute supplemental materials included with applications without permission, Bloomberg Law may use information from an application’s written responses to the prompts for promotional purposes if an Innovation is selected as a finalist. This may include, but is not limited to, quotes from faculty and students, data relating to the program, and professor/administrator titles.
Access to applications will be limited to the Bloomberg Law team members involved in the Law School Innovation Program and application evaluators.
Related Innovations that are distinct in nature can be submitted as separate applications. For example, if a law school has an Innovation with different courses or clinics incorporated, either the entire program may be submitted or separate applications may be submitted for individual courses.
It is important to note that only the most impactful Innovations will be selected as finalists, so in the aforementioned example, it may better serve the applicant to submit the entire program itself to be judged as a whole, rather than as separate courses. However, there may be valid reasons to separate out and highlight individual courses, and we welcome separate applications in those instances.
It is important to note that only the most impactful Innovations will be selected as finalists, so in the aforementioned example, it may better serve the applicant to submit the entire program itself to be judged as a whole, rather than as separate courses. However, there may be valid reasons to separate out and highlight individual courses, and we welcome separate applications in those instances.
We may consider late applications under certain circumstances, but incomplete submissions will not be considered. We will audit submissions and make every effort to inform applicants if they are missing a required element.
No, but you can provide us with the contact information of the professor or program administrator, and we will reach out on your behalf to inform them about the application process. Please direct this information to innovation@bloombergindustry.com.
No, individual applications or personal information will not be publicly available. However, the finalists will be promoted in Bloomberg Law articles, on the Law School Innovation Program’s website, and in Bloomberg Law social media posts.
No, applying to the program as well as all associated promotional materials for finalists are free for all U.S.-based, ABA-Approved law schools. There is no cost to submit your Innovation or be included as a finalist.
The Bloomberg Law team is here to support you throughout the entire application process. Should you have any questions or feedback, you may contact the team at innovation@bloombergindustry.com. We are also happy to schedule a call to discuss your questions.
2022 Program and Finalists
In 2022, Bloomberg Law’s inaugural Law School Innovation Program recognized law schools with innovative programs that advanced new methodologies and approaches to student instruction, legal technology implementation and adoption, experiential learning, and other facets of legal education. Ten finalists received the highest overall scores. Bloomberg Law also acknowledged the highest-scoring programs in six specific categories, listed below.
Learn More About the Overall Finalists
- Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn Law Incubator & Policy Clinic (BLIP Clinic)
- Drake University Law School, First Year Trial Practicum
- Georgia State University College of Law, Legal Analytics & Innovation Initiative
- Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, The National Appellate Clinic Network
- Santa Clara University School of Law, Privacy Law Certificate
- St. Mary’s University School of Law, St. Mary’s School of Law Online J.D. Program
- Suffolk University Law School, Legal Innovation & Technology (LIT) JD Concentration
- University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, Integrated Education on Well-Being and Thriving in the Law
- University of Richmond School of Law, Legal Business Design Hub
- Villanova University, Charles Widger School of Law, Leveraging Technology to Promote Access to Justice Course
Learn More About the Top Scoring Programs in Technology
- DePaul University College of Law, Interdisciplinary Tech Education for Law Students in Cybersecurity & Data Privacy
- Duke University School of Law, Data Governance Simulations
- Hofstra University Maurice A. Deane School of Law, National Legal Innovation Tournament
- Hofstra University Maurice A. Deane School of Law, Computer Technology in Legal Practice
- Hofstra University Maurice A. Deane School of Law, Law Logic & Technology Law
- Michigan State University College of Law, Center for Law Technology and Innovation
- Suffolk University Law School, Legal Innovation and Technology Certificate Program
- Suffolk University Law School, Legal Innovation & Technology Lab
- University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, Concentration in Technology and Innovation in the Practice of Law
Learn More About the Top Scoring Programs in Business
- Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law, The W. Bruce Lunsford Academy For Law, Business + Technology
- Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, The Program for Privacy, Cybersecurity and Compliance
- Fordham University School of Law, Entrepreneurial Law Program and Clinic
- Harvard Law School, Start-up Entrepreneurship & Innovations in Legal Technology Course
- Northern Illinois University College of Law, Business Law Innovation Clinic
- University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, Startup Legal Garage
Learn More About the Top Scoring Programs in Justice
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Legislation and Policy Clinic
- Roger Williams University School of Law, Race and the Foundations of American Law Course
- Southern University Law Center, The Urban Law, Technology & Research Academy
- Southwestern Law School, More than the Numbers’: Empirical Evidence of an Innovative Approach to Admissions
- University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, Innovation for Justice
- University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, Creative Advocacy Lab
- Widener University Delaware Law School, Dignity Rights Clinic
- Widener University Delaware Law School, Dignity Law Program
Learn More About the Top Scoring Programs in Experience
- Albany Law School, Innovation Intensive
- Yeshiva University Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Filmmakers Legal Clinic
- Northeastern University School of Law, NuLawLab
- Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Center for Practice Engagement and Innovation
- Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Innovation Lab
- Syracuse University College of Law, Innovation Law Center
- University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, LexLab
- University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Law + Innovation Lab
- University of Minnesota Law School, Law in Practice
- University of Washington School of Law, Tech Policy Lab
Learn More About the Top Scoring Programs in Pedagogy
- Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School, BYU Law Academies Program
- New York Law School, Enhancing Teaching and Learning in a Law School
- Northern Illinois University College of Law, An Online Learning Environment for In-Person Doctrinal Classes
- Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Master of Science in Law
- Santa Clara University School of Law, Tech Edge JD Program
- South Texas College of Law, Inter-School Negotiation Practicum
- Texas Tech University School of Law, Research on Online Education in the Legal Academy
- University of New Hampshire School of Law, Hybrid JD in Intellectual Property, Technology, and Information Law
- University of St. Thomas School of Law, Compliance Concentration
- Vanderbilt University Law School, Program on Law and Innovation
Learn More About the Top Scoring Programs in Student Development
- Cleveland State University College of Law, Teaching Law Students Tech and Tech Students Law
- Elon University School of Law, A Redesigned Experiential Curriculum
- Fordham University School of Law, Peer Mentoring and Leadership Program
- Syracuse University College of Law, National Trial League
- The University of Tennessee College of Law, Institute for Professional Leadership
- University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Law Firm Program
- University of Oklahoma College of Law, OU Law Digital Initiative
- Washburn University School of Law, Third Year Anywhere Enrollment Option