Real Lawyers Deserve a Real Courtroom

September 21, 2011 Courtrooms

William and Mary Law School Courtroom

This gem is the McGlothlin Courtroom, at William & Mary Law School (rank #28). It was built in 1993, and has been continually upgraded since then. The law school calls it the world’s most technologically advanced trial and appellate courtroom. The courtroom is operated by The Center for Legal and Court Technology (CLCT) whose mission is “to improve the world’s legal systems through the appropriate use of technology.”  CLCT conducts legal technology demonstrations and discussions each week, hosting jurists, lawyers, law faculty, court administrators, technologists, architects and others from throughout the world. The courtroom is used each year for what they call Laboratory Trials, which are mock trials using the courtroom technology.

William & Mary is located forty miles down the Virginia Peninsula from Richmond (population 202, 002) next to an amusement park. The University of Miami Law School is at the crossroads of North and South America. It is a hub of litigation. The medical school and hospital draws people from all over the continent. It would seem a no-brainer for the law school to match the medical school in that breadth of influence.

Imagine how a courtroom like this could draw the attention of judges and lawyers from many places. They would love to come to Miami for training in the latest courtroom skills and technology. We are missing a wonderful opportunity.

The law school is submitting plans for a new building this fall. It does not include anything to match this courtroom. It will never happen without outside funding. This is a great opportunity to create the Greenberg Traurig Courtroom, or Holland and Knight Courtroom or named for another firm that is willing to fund it.

Or perhaps just a collection of trial lawyers in this city. I am willing to chair an ad hoc committee. Is anyone willing to join?