Question Authority: Law Students Have an Important Role to Play in the Future of Legal Education

I recently gave a keynote address in which I admonished a large group of law students to question authority . It certainly sounds cliche - after all, it was the rallying cry of countercultural icon Timothy Leary during the 1960s. A decade later, it was a mainstream bumper sticker. But the admonition has a much more distinguished pedigree. Benjamin Franklin is reported to have said, "It is the first responsibility of every citizen is to question authority."

I wish I had known the source of the quote when I gave the speech. But regardless, it fit the context. Today's law students are embarking upon an uncertain future. Although I can understand the impulse to trust your elders, there are times of extreme upheaval when they cannot be counted upon to deliver wise counsel.

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