Berkman Center and CALI Partner to Create New Legal Education Resource

Cambridge, MA – Today at the 17th annual CALI Conference on Law School Computing, the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School and the non-profit Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) proudly announced a new partnership to stimulate innovation in American law schools through a new educational resource sharing platform.  This work will be perpetuated by the establishment of the CALI-Berkman Research Fellowship.

“We are looking forward to renewing a fruitful relationship with Harvard Law School through the Legal Education Commons project, which will provide innovative tools and access to open-licensed course materials to our more than 200 member law schools” said CALI Executive Director John Mayer.

The partnership will establish the Legal Education Commons – known as eLangdell for Harvard Law School’s first Dean and the Law Library’s namesake, Dean Christopher Columbus Langdell – where law faculty can share and use openly-licensed course materials to offer students free or low-cost course packs, casebooks, podcasts, and video.  Berkman and CALI will also research and develop innovative teaching tools to advance practice skills like client interaction, negotiations, and trial advocacy.

The first CALI-Berkman Research Fellowship will be held by current Berkman Fellow Gene Koo, a 2002 graduate of Harvard Law School, whose research has centered on the use of technology in legal instruction.  Gene also helped found Legal Aid University, which provides training and development to poverty lawyers across the country.

“The Berkman Center is happy to build on the relationship Harvard Law established some 25 years ago as co-founder of CALI,” added Berkman Center Executive Director John Palfrey.  “Gene’s devotion to improving education through technology will certainly make this effort a great success.”

About the Berkman Center:
The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School is proud to celebrate its tenth year as a research program founded to explore cyberspace, share in its study, and help pioneer its development.  Founded in 1997, through a generous gift from Jack N. and Lillian R. Berkman, the Center now is home to an ever-growing community of faculty, fellows, staff, and affiliates working on projects that span the broad range of intersection between cyberspace, technology, and society.  More information can be found at http://cyber.harvard.edu.

About the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction:
CALI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit consortium of over 200 U.S. law schools, whose mission is to research and develop computer-mediated legal instruction and support institutions and individuals using technology and distance learning in legal education.  Incorporated in 1982 by Harvard Law School and the University of Minnesota School of Law, CALI continues to welcome membership from law schools, paralegal programs, law firms and individuals wishing to learn more about the law.  More information can be found at http://www2.cali.org/.