Joan Howarth

What's the most important thing you are working on right now?

Teaching Torts again to smart, lively, engaged and engaging Boyd students feels like winning the jackpot. When classes end I’ll return to my research projects. I just published an article on Title IX campus sexual misconduct issues, and have an article on bar exams in the final editing stage. Attorney licensing is hugely important, but under-studied. My current work compares bar exams to licensing tests for other professions, like medicine, nursing, accounting, dentistry, and engineering. Lawyers tend to think of bar exams as somehow etched in stone, a steady constant in a world of changes elsewhere. But attorney licensing is also changing in very positive ways.

What are some of those changes in bar exams that you’ve seen or studied?

The biggest change is the juggernaut success of the Uniform Bar Exam. I think back to about twelve years ago when I was the academic dean working with our founding dean, Dick Morgan. Dick was appointed to a small committee of national leaders to begin to think about the possibility of greater cooperation between states on bar exams. Dick and that committee endorsed the idea of a uniform bar exam, but it seemed very pie in the sky. Fast forward to today, and a majority of states have already adopted the Uniform Bar Exam, especially here in the West, a region known for its innovative spirit. My research into other professions suggests that the Uniform Bar Exam will eventually be everywhere, which I think will be good for the public and the profession.     

You joined the Boyd faculty in 2001, left in 2008, and now are back as a Distinguished Visiting Professor. What were you doing in your absence, and what have you noticed on your return to Boyd?

I was privileged to serve as the dean of Michigan State University College of Law, a dream job. As I said many times about the move, I noticed a few differences between Las Vegas and East Lansing. With wonderful colleagues, I worked at MSU Law to build some of the successes that Boyd had already achieved, and to create opportunities unique to MSU. One of my favorite things about being back at Boyd is being in the classroom again, after many years as an administrator. Also, my years away gave my former Boyd students time to not just launch their careers, but become visible leaders. I happily bask in their reflected glory when I see their awards, positions of authority, client successes, and amazing achievements. And the sense of community here at Boyd remains very strong and very special.

When students ask you what they should read or do outside the classroom?

We’re all different. Find time to do whatever keeps you healthy, happy, and close to the people you love. The most important education in law school is learning how to work very hard and be ready to handle serious professional responsibility while staying healthy and true to your core values. That’s more challenging and important than understanding the rule against perpetuities or anything else in a casebook. It also helps to find lots of ways to make law school as fun as possible, because some of it just isn’t.