Photograph: Eagle statue outside law school.

Learning from the Practicing Bar

The Center uses many program formats to impart the knowledge, skills, and values required to be an effective transactional lawyer and business lawyer.

Lecture Series

These programs are carefully designed by Center faculty and the selected instructor to ensure students enhance their practical knowledge and are exposed to professional skills associated with the topic. These programs are taught by practitioners with extensive expertise on the assigned topic. Instructors are urged to "bring their documents" and ensure when they have finished they have imparted knowledge regarding a skill associated with an important aspect of transactional or business law.

Distinguished Practitioners In Residence

During each semester a practitioner at the height of their career is asked to come to the law school for an extended period of time to interact with students in several different settings. They will participate in lectures, regularly scheduled classes, small group discussions, and one-on-one student discussions.

Visiting Scholar

Once each year one or more nationally-recognized scholars in the field of business law will spend an extended period of time at the law school interacting with students and the faculty. During their stay they will make several presentations and also have the opportunity to discuss their work informally.

Symposia

As topics of interest arise, symposia will be conducted that bring in experts to fully study, analyze, and discuss the subject matter. Symposia proceedings will be conducted publicly and will often result in articles published in a special issue of the Washburn Law Journal.

Law Firm/Corporate On-Site Student Experience

These on-site experiences are planned by Center faculty in conjunction with a law firm or in-house corporate legal department to allow students to learn directly from the organization's attorneys. The first program of this sort was conducted at the Hinkle Elkouri Law Firm in Wichita, Kansas and focused on the transactional and business law issues associated with representing a client purchasing a bottled water business.

Other Center-Sponsored Programming

Center faculty members are always looking for creative programming ideas and new program formats. In addition to the programs noted above, faculty prepare many programs which they present outside of the classroom. For example, Professor Pierce has developed his "What Every Lawyer and Law Student Should Know About" a particular contract clause series and "The Use, Negotiation, and Drafting of Most Favored Nations Clauses."