Ep 274: Insights on Leadership and Innovation in Legal Education, with Anastasia Boyko
Jan 13, 2025
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Anastasia Boyko, Chief Innovation Officer at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law, shares her diverse career journey from tax lawyer to yoga teacher. She delves into the importance of leadership training in legal education and discusses innovative approaches to prepare students for real-world challenges. Boyko also tackles the integration of technology in law schools and the significance of non-lawyer solutions in enhancing access to justice, all while highlighting her experiences as a refugee from Soviet Ukraine.
The increasing demand for innovative courses in AI and technology among law students underscores the need for law schools to modernize their curriculum.
Integrating leadership training with traditional legal education is crucial for equipping students with essential skills like emotional intelligence and decision-making.
Overcoming resistance to change within law schools requires collaboration among faculty, students, and stakeholders to adapt to evolving educational needs.
Deep dives
The Demand for Innovative Legal Education
There is a significant and growing demand among law students for innovative courses, particularly in areas such as AI, technology, and leadership development. Many students are seeking out these programs because traditional law education often lacks relevance to current legal practice and emerging technologies. This demand highlights the necessity for law schools to evolve and incorporate more contemporary topics into their curriculum. By addressing this gap, law schools can better prepare graduates for the challenges they will face in their careers.
The Importance of Leadership in Legal Education
Teaching leadership skills within law school is essential to preparing students for real-world challenges they will encounter in their professional lives. Leadership training should complement doctrinal courses, experiential learning, and practical application to create effective lawyers. Incorporating leadership development into the curriculum addresses critical competencies such as emotional intelligence, decision-making, and team dynamics. By fostering these skills, law schools can empower graduates to become influential leaders in their respective fields.
Barriers to Change in Law Schools
Law schools face inherent resistance to change, stemming from entrenched traditional teaching methods and structural complexities within academic institutions. Faculty members often have established views on legal education that may prioritize theoretical knowledge over practical skills and innovation. Additionally, logistical and budgetary constraints can hinder the implementation of new programs, making it challenging to adapt to changing student needs. Overcoming these barriers requires collaboration with allies both within and outside the institution, including students, faculty, and local stakeholders.
Innovative Approaches to Access to Justice
Innovating in legal education can play a crucial role in enhancing access to justice for underserved populations. Various initiatives, such as licensing paralegals to deliver specific legal services, demonstrate how non-lawyers can effectively assist individuals navigating the legal system. This approach expands the legal workforce's capacity while providing low-cost and accessible assistance to those in need. Emphasizing collaboration between legal professionals and community advocates can further drive impactful changes in how legal services are delivered.
Future Trends in Legal Education and Practice
The future of legal education and practice is likely to be shaped by advancements in technology and innovative teaching methods. Legal education can benefit from the integration of AI labs and interdisciplinary courses that encourage collaboration between various fields. Additionally, law firms are beginning to focus on innovation departments that foster a culture of change and adaptability among their lawyers. These developments signal a shift towards a more holistic approach to legal education, preparing students for a dynamic and evolving legal landscape.
Anastasia Boyko likes to say that she’s Goldilocks-ed her way through her career. True, it’s been a varied career, as she’s tried out different roles, but it is a career that has taken her full circle, from Yale Law School, where she graduated, and then eventually back to Yale Law to create a program in leadership for lawyers, and from Salt Lake City, where she grew up after she and her mother fled Soviet-era Ukraine, and then back to that city as chief innovation officer at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law.
Along the way, Boyko has learned a thing or two about the roles of leadership and innovation in legal education, and she has strong opinions about why law schools should do better at preparing students to be both leaders and innovators. In today’s LawNext, Boyko joins host Bob Ambrogi to share the journey of her Goldilocks-ed career and her insights on leadership and innovation, as well as ac-cess to justice.
After graduating from Yale Law School, Boyko began her career in private practice as a tax lawyer. She went on to hold diverse professional positions, including law librarian, Supreme Court intern, banker, yoga teacher, wellness entrepreneur, and career coach. She returned to Yale Law as the inaugural dean of the school’s Tsai Leadership Program, where she developed an innovative leadership program for lawyers, and returned to the University of Utah’s law school, first as director of non-J.D. programs and then as chief innovation officer.
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