As the legal profession confronts rapid technological, social, and institutional change, law schools are increasingly examining how they can prepare graduates not only to practice law, but also to lead with integrity, judgment, and purpose. The latest issue of the Journal of Legal Education (74-1), devoted to leadership and character in the law, explores how legal education can foster professional identity, ethical decision-making, and leadership skills that equip future lawyers to serve their clients, communities, and the rule of law. Developed as a follow up to the 2025 Leadership and Character in the Law conference at Wake Forest University School of Law, the issue brings together scholars and educators who are advancing more holistic approaches to lawyer formation and leadership development.
This issue was organized by Professor Kenneth Townsend (Wake Forest Law), and the University of California, Irvine School of Law oversaw its production. The issue features the following articles:
- Introduction
- “Leadership and Character in the Law: An Introduction from Kenneth Townsend” by Kenneth Townsend
- Articles
- “Fostering Future Difference-Makers: The Integration of Leadership Training in Law Schools” by Leah Teague
- “Obeying in Advance Will Not Save You: How Adaptive Leadership Can Help Legal Education Stay Mission Driven in Times of Authoritarianism and Fear” by Tania Luma
- “What Do We Do At the End of a World?: Cultivating Emergent Leadership in a Time of Collapse” by Brent Godfrey
- “Professional Identity Formation As Theory And As Practice For The Education Of A Lawyer” by Louis D. Bilionis & Neil W. Hamilton
- “Who’s the Lawyer Now? Professional Identity in a GenAI World” by Aric K. Short
- “Practicing Pietas: Character Development for Lawyers as Citizens” by Elisabeth Rain Kincaid
- “Conviction, Character, Courage: The Case for Integrating Values into the Professional Identity Formation of Tomorrow’s Lawyer-Leaders” by Katya S. Cronin
- “Moral Virtues, Professional Identity, and Leadership” by Timothy W. Floyd
- “The Large Impact of Small Groups on the Character-Based Leadership Development of Law Students” by Benjamin Rigney & Janice Craft
- Book Review
- Book Review of the Lawyer Nation: The Past, Present, and Future of the American Legal Profession reviewed by Jennifer A. Gundlach
About the JLE
Established in 1948, the JLE is the journal of record for the American legal academy, published by AALS in its role as the learned society for the study of law and legal education. The publication’s primary purpose is to provide AALS member schools and faculty with articles of timely relevance to a wide array of interests and areas of expertise. The JLE serves as a meaningful resource for faculty and others to keep abreast of the most recent thinking, trends, and changes in legal education.