This paper outlines the changes and resultant strategy alterations that took place in the legal education system of the Lao People's Democratic Republic in 1991 and how these changes affected the Vientiane School of Law. In the late 1980s, the government was transformed from a centrally-governed economy into a market economy. The difficult task resulting was how to teach law students English, when it was not really clear what the legal system would be by the time they graduated. The English Department at the School of Law was established in 1993 with the appointment of an advisor funded by the Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA); it currently has 580 students, 22 classes, and 8 full-time staff. Faculty had to quickly become knowledgeable in the English language, teaching methodology, and legal knowledge. Success has been attained in the English language and methodology needs, however the legal knowledge needs require more time. Students, educated under traditional Buddhist monk teaching methodology or the inflexible, authoritarian French system, required assistance with critical thinking, research skills, and reading habits. Critical thinking and reading skills have been improved through the use of English-language case studies developed by the students, and research skills have been improved by a required, comparative legal paper writing activity. (Author/NAV)