This checklist of standards endorsed by the American Bar Association through the 1985 annual meeting includes the title, sponsor, date of endorsement, sources where copies may be found, amendments, and explanatory notes for each set of standards. (Author/CLB)

Despite the rapidly rising divorce rate and the importance of the divorce settlement agreement for the spouses' financial and emotional well-being, factors influencing the effectiveness of divorce negotiations have received very little attention. To assess the major determinants of successful divorce negotiations between divorcing spouses and…

Prosecuting and defense attorneys across Indiana were surveyed concerning the acceptability of specific behaviors associated with child abuse. Among respondents (n=154) prosecutors had more severe judgments than defense attorneys on 32 of the 42 behaviors. Cognitive dissonance theory is proposed as an explanation for these findings. (Author/DB)

This study examined the relationship of case characteristics, maternal support, and child psychopathology to acceptance of child sexual abuse cases for prosecution. Cases (n=431) referred to prosecutors' offices over a one-year period in four urban jurisdictions were examined. Specific independent predictors of acceptance were identified.…

Although few people bring their psychological problems to mental health professionals, research in the area of 'natural' help is rudimentary. To investigate the process and effectiveness of natural professional groups in helping individuals experiencing marital disruption, 42 helpers (14 mental health professionals, 14 divorce lawyers, and 14…

Examines results of a four-county Indiana survey in which approximately 90% of attorneys and public agency caseworkers involved in court actions on child abuse cases revealed considerable conflict over each other's role. Suggests ways to clarify roles and ameliorate similar problems in other localities. (RWB)

The anecdotal literature suggests that the process of legal education impairs the maintenance of emotional well-being in law students. This study examined the emotional well-being of subjects (N=706) before, during, and after law school. Data were collected using four standardized self-report instruments including the Brief Symptom Inventory, Beck…

Previous research on the personality traits and needs of professional women has found that women in nontraditional roles possess traits that are more characteristic of the male sex role, and that in many instances they are higher on those traits. To determine sex and occupational differences in the self-perceptions of male and female psychologists…

The term gender bias was coined by the National Judicial Education Program to Promote Equality for Women and Men in the Courts and is defined as the predisposition or tendency to think about and behave toward people primarily on the basis of their sex rather than their status, professional accomplishments, or aspirations. An effective method for…

Determinants of individual mobility within firms (promotion) and between firms (lateral entry) are developed and listed. Using data from 80 large law firms over a 3-year period, 8 hypotheses were tested by regressing number of promotions and number of lateral entries on 11 independent variables. Appended are 57 citations. (MLF)

An attorney who has served both plaintiffs and defendants in court cases involving higher education institutions suggests several basic principles for institutional researchers in coping with a complex litigious environment: stay informed about major legal developments; consult your institution's attorney, and be proactive in the consultation; do…

A study assessed the communication skills of practicing lawyers in order to determine whether they had needs that could be met by the speech communication discipline. Specifically, the study investigated (1) the importance lawyers attached to certain communication skills, (2) how proficienty they considered themselves to be in using those skills,…

Uses characteristic education, occupation, and job experience credentials of current elites in U.S. institutions to approximate the proportion of women in the pool of potential elites. Includes breakdowns for law, Ph.D. programs, managers, accountants, and M.B.A.s. Concludes that women's representation in elite positions is consistent with their…

This book is a compilation of the presentations delivered at the National School Boards Association (NSBA) Council of School Attorneys Annual School Law Seminar on March 22-24, 2001, in San Diego, California. Presentations include: (1) "Religion and the Public Schools--What Hath the Supreme Court Wrought?" (Jay Worona and Patricia H. Gould); (2)…

A number of changes have been made in student assessment at the University of Montana School of Law, in an attempt to assess elements of student performance as well as knowledge level. Within the educational goal of blending legal theory and practical skills, practicing lawyers were surveyed about what a good lawyer should be able to do and should…