Arent Fox partner Jerry Abeles has had an opinion piece published in the February 2008 issue of Los Angeles Lawyer.

In the article, titled "Reality MCLE," Jerry argues that the California State Bar should revise its Minimum Continuing Legal Education requirements to allow attorneys who serve on juries to earn MCLE credit.

"Where else can a courtroom attorney learn the skills, methods and strategies most applicable to his or her professional growth than a courtroom," Jerry writes. "Through service on a jury, attorneys can learn invaluable lessons about conduct in front of a jury. ... It does not take much imagination to understand why attorneys serving as jurors should be afforded MCLE credit."

Jerry argues that jury service is a far greater teaching tool than traditional MCLE venues. "Each January, more than 40,000 California attorneys scramble to earn their last several hours of required continuing education credits. Most sit through interminable, sleep-inducing seminars-on-CD in their cars. Every year, those 40,000 attorneys collectively say to themselves, there has to be a better way to earn MCLE credit."

Jerry writes that he has found one better way: "Given the valuable, real-world experience afforded by jury service, there really is no good reason why MCLE credit should not be given to attorney jurors."

To read the complete article, please click here.