Law Dean Pushes National Study of LSAT Alternatives

Researchers at UC-Berkeley School of Law have identified tests to measure characteristics that contribute to lawyer success, such as negotiating skills, problem-solving and stress management. Now the school’s dean is seeking support for national research on the issue.

Berkeley law dean Christopher Edley has posted a message to a law dean listserv that says two professors have identified and validated a number of tests that could be used along with the Law School Admissions Test, the Recorder reports. Their findings were based on research involving 7,000 lawyers.

Edley wants support to take the study to a national level, the story says. The Law School Admission Council is taking a look at the study and will work with the law school to develop a research plan and funding, LSAC spokeswoman Wendy Margolis told the Recorder.

"The driver is seeing if there are any non-cognitive factors that might have a potential bearing on success in law school or the legal profession," she said. "We're interested in making sure that we're not missing any kind of measurement that might be useful."