The Victor Davis Hanson Show
Beyond Peak Woke?: VDH Interviews Ilya Shapiro on Our University Censors
Jan 13, 2025
Ilya Shapiro, a senior lecturer at Georgetown Center for the Constitution and author of "Lawless: The Miseducation of America's Elite," shares his experiences navigating the challenges of legal education. He critiques the impact of diversity initiatives on the training of future lawyers, reflecting on controversies like those at Stanford Law School. Shapiro discusses the growing influence of activism within elite institutions, the decline of academic rigor, and the pressures shaping law school culture today, including censorship and political agendas.
41:52
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast highlights the troubling shift in legal education towards social activism at the expense of foundational legal training, impacting future practitioners' preparedness.
- A discussion on DEI policies reveals how they contribute to a disconnect between essential legal competencies and the current curriculum in elite law schools.
Deep dives
Critique of Legal Education
The podcast discusses a critical examination of legal education in America, particularly at elite law schools, highlighting the issues of indoctrination and a lack of objective truth. A significant aspect of this critique stems from an individual's experience at Georgetown Law School, where it was noted that law students are often influenced by political biases even before they reach law school. Legal training has shifted away from foundational subjects like torts and contracts, focusing instead on ideologies rooted in social activism, which undermines the preparation for future legal practitioners. The dangers of this trend are emphasized, as these graduates are set to become influential figures in the legal and political landscape.
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