Implementing Best Practices and Educating Lawyers
Session 6 Workshops

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 – 10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

[A] Autonomy Support and Law School: Irreconcilable Differences or Perfect Match?

Paula J. Manning and Mary Basick, Whittier Law School

There is much opportunity to provide autonomy support inside and outside of the classroom, and to improve student outcomes and experiences as a result. Through a series of case studies, hypothetical situations, and interactive experiences, participants will learn about techniques that can be implemented to better support students' emotional, psychological and professional needs—including changing the focus and tone of courses and programs; minimizing unhealthy competitiveness; and using "positive" language in the classroom and in written feedback. Participants will have the opportunity to develop and refine their own ideas for providing similar support.

[B] Everything We Need to Know About Teaching We Learned in Pre-school: Active Learning and How to Not Teach to Engage Students

Rory Bahadur, Washburn University School of Law

If you ever wished your upper-division students were as excited and enthusiastic in class as those new, incoming, bright-eyed and eager 1Ls, this workshop is for you. The workshop tangibly explores an active learning-based, alternative pedagogy which maximizes law student engagement in the classroom. Initially, session participants will be exposed to the pedagogy as it is currently utilized both in an upper-division and in a first-year course. Next, participants will precisely articulate any learning strategies identified, hopefully rethinking the relationship between teaching and learning. Finally, participants will depart prepared to implement the techniques in their own classes.

[C] Using Wikis to Engage Your Students and Teach More Effectively

David Thomson, University of Denver Sturm College of Law

Pedagogical technology has finally developed to the point where it can not only help us teach better, but it can also help us achieve some of the goals articulated in the Educating Lawyers and Best Practices reports. The worry is that more experiential teaching and providing more student feedback will increase costs. But the thoughtful use of educational technology can help us leverage our teaching resources to effectively achieve these goals and yet not significantly increase costs. The use of wiki software is particularly promising. This presentation will demonstrate the use of wikis in the teaching of several law courses. It will then demonstrate how attendees can set up a wiki for their own classes.

[D] Making Simulations Real: Using Simulations to Teach Doctrine, Skills and Professionalism Across the Curriculum

Julie Goldscheid and Jenny Rivera, CUNY School of Law

This workshop focuses on ways to use simulations based on social justice lawyering problems to teach doctrine, lawyering skills and professionalism. During this interactive session we will brainstorm, role play, and use small groups to work through the stages of simulation development, focusing on how to design and use a social justice problem. Participants will leave with a template and individualized work plan for incorporating simulations based on curricular needs, faculty and student interests, and teaching goals.

[E] Helping Students Self-Assess Critical Skills in Light of Professional Expectations: A Timekeeping Exercise

Grace Wigal, West Virginia University College of Law

This workshop will illustrate a timekeeping exercise that can be used in conjunction with a variety of drafting assignments or exercises. The timekeeping exercise asks students to describe, track, and bill their time on a project with a special focus on the following:

  1. self-assessment of strengths and weaknesses in the production process,
  2. self-diagnosis and prescription for future efficiency, and
  3. preparation of a reasonable bill for the product.

The exercise should make students more aware of themselves as professionals in the law firm setting and the hidden expectations of the law firm culture.