Legal Education and the Rule of Law
This Article argues that law schools function not only as educational institutions, but as essential civic infrastructure for the rule of law and part of the machinery for the continuous reproduction of constitutional stability. It situates law schools within both “thin” and “thick” conceptions of the rule of law and explores the core functions through which law schools perform this role while examining historical episodes, comparative perspectives, and the influence of external funders. By analyzing these dimensions, this Article demonstrates how law schools both reflect and help shape the legal order. The conclusion calls for law schools to root themselves more deeply and intentionally in their core mission as civic institutions that teach, create and disseminate knowledge, and serve society, so that they may rise to the challenges of sustaining and renewing the rule of law.