Professor Richard Mangrum: a constant voice in a changing legal landscape
The practice of law is changing rapidly as new case law and the adoption of artificial intelligence introduces new challenges and nuances to the field.
Creighton University School of Law continues to help attorneys navigate the ever-evolving landscape through Continuing Legal Education (CLE). As Professor Richard Mangrum, JD, SJD, Creighton’s leading CLE voice, notes, “practitioners, judges and academics in the law have a combined responsibility to enhance truth and justice in our communities through objectives of understanding the law as applied to real life situations.” To this end, continuous preparation is key.
Legal practice: The more it changes, the more it stays the same
Over his 46 years of teaching and scholarship, Mangrum is no stranger to change in the profession. Today, he notes, artificial intelligence is altering how lawyers practice, bringing up ethical and professional considerations.
Yet even as tools evolve, the core demands of the profession remain constant. These values, according to Mangrum, are compassion, commitment and coherency, and are part of the foundation of the CLE programs he leads at Creighton.
Evidence law: Why it requires ongoing education
As an example, evidence law demands continual attention. Mangrum notes that the most complex area of evidence is expert testimony. “In a seminar later this year, I will provide an overview of case law, the most recent developments and many practical examples of specific expert testimony issues,” he adds.
Another example of Mangrum’s CLE content includes inconsistent witness statements: “Before you seek to impeach, ask yourself, ‘Is the answer given better for your case theory than the prior statement?’ Do not impeach simply because you can. Impeach because either the inconsistent statement does damage to your case or enhances their case theory. Assuming impeachment makes sense, approach impeachment by inconsistent statement through three steps: (1) Ask, (2) Commit, (3) Confront.”
Seminars dive into these three specific steps, providing more clarity as practitioners “review and reassess insights and techniques that were already known at some level but less well understood.”
Continuing Legal Education: What sets Creighton apart
Differentiators of Creighton’s Continuing Legal Education programs include the continuity and care it offers participants.
As the author of Mangrum on Nebraska Evidence and Mangrum and Benson on Utah Rules of Evidence, Mangrum updates the treaties many attorneys already rely on each year. “I am a constant and continuous voice on the rules of evidence, an important area for anyone who goes to or judges trials,” he explains.
In the area of care, it’s important to Mangrum to source areas of confusion among attorneys, guiding this content through practical approaches. At the heart of his preparation and scholarly work is this care: "I hope my attendees sense that I care for them and the community...,” he says.
Mangrum sees his role as a lifelong mentor and support for his students. Long after graduation, many Creighton alumni continue to turn to him for guidance, whether during trial preparation, moments of professional reflection, and professional and personal celebration.
“I care for my students years after their graduation,” he says. “They become part of my extended family.”
Looking ahead
Upcoming Creighton CLE offerings include the Nebraska Evidence: Annual Review, timed for May 2026 with the release of the latest edition of Mangrum on Nebraska Evidence, and a dedicated seminar in December 2026 on Expert Testimony in Nebraska. These sessions will focus on recent case law, practical challenges and real-world application for attorneys and judges.
Stay tuned into upcoming CLE opportunities at Creighton on the lifelong learning website.