Given the amount of e-commerce, I’m not surprised as a Web attorney that law students want more Internet law classes. The issue is: where will the schools find qualified instructors to teach the classes? I don’t mean to be harsh but most schools default to large firms filled with attorneys who bring blue chip credentials to the table but no real world experience when it comes to understanding how Internet law really works. These lawyers are simply behind the times, practicing 1990s law in the 21st Century.
Unfortunately, law school hiring committees don’t have a clue as to what’s really needed when selecting a Web attorney to teach cyberlaw. They falsely assume that big firm Dewey Cheatem and Howe must be experts because Fortune 500 companies are clients of the firm. Thus, firm partner Winthrop P. Buffington XVI becomes the new cyberlaw ‘expert’ teaching as an adjunct faculty member.
Perhaps the only thing more outdated than the typical Web attorney school instructor’s credentials to teach are the books used for such instruction. By the time most of these books are published they’re obsolete.
Personally, it is a good thing because it means I’ve got less competition in the marketplace. However, there will be entrepreneurs who unfortunately fall victim to bad advice from a new attorney who received an outdated education on Internet law and lacks the experience to know it.
To your success!
-Mike the Web attorney
