US Law Schools Criticized for Omitting Civil Asset Forfeiture from Curricula

• Shaun Ossei-Owusu's book, Law on Trial, critiques the law profession's priorities and values.
• The book highlights the omission of critical issues like civil asset forfeiture from law school curricula.
• Compliance officers are encouraged to review their firm's policies on client representation and outcome-driven decision-making.
• Lawyers are prompted to reflect on their own priorities and values, considering the trade-offs between winning cases and upholding justice.

The pressure to win cases in Biglaw and government lawyering can lead lawyers to compromise on justice.

Shaun Ossei-Owusu's book, Law on Trial, is a critical examination of the law profession and its priorities. Ossei-Owusu, who holds a PhD in African American Studies from Berkeley and completed a fellowship at the American Bar Foundation, aimed to understand the technical language of law to translate his existing knowledge about how the legal system treats people versus its stated intentions. His book delves into the consequences of 'thinking like a lawyer,' including the omission of critical issues like civil asset forfeiture from law school curricula.

The pressure to win cases in Biglaw and government lawyering can lead lawyers to compromise on justice. This phenomenon is particularly concerning when it comes to civil asset forfeiture, a practice that has been criticized for its potential to disproportionately affect marginalized communities. The omission of such issues from law school curricula raises questions about the profession's priorities and whether they align with upholding justice. Ossei-Owusu's book highlights the need for lawyers to critically evaluate their profession's values and consider the trade-offs between winning cases and doing what is right.

The conversation sparked by Law on Trial has significant implications for the legal profession. Compliance officers are encouraged to review their firm's policies on client representation and outcome-driven decision-making, while lawyers are prompted to reflect on their own priorities and values. The book's emphasis on human judgment, standardized competence, and integrated learning serves as a reminder that technology alone cannot solve the profession's problems. Rather, it is the mindset and cultural shifts that define the AIsavvy lawyer, who will shape the future of the legal profession.

This conversation highlights the need for lawyers to critically evaluate their profession's priorities and consider the trade-offs between winning cases and upholding justice, prompting compliance officers to review their firm's policies on client representation and outcome-driven decision-making.

Source: Original reporting via Law on Trial book review