Posted on February 20, 2009 by glesnerb
The economic downturn puts legal education at a crossroads indeed. Travel freezes, pay cuts, tuition increases, even furloughs: law schools have clearly not escaped current economic woes. How will the economy affect the drive to improve legal education? As the budget crunch hits law schools, one can expect steps to trim faculty, rely more on adjuncts, and attempt to increase classes to generate more tuition. None of these steps are likely to bode well for the forward progress of legal education reform. Continue reading →
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Posted on February 11, 2009 by Roy Stuckey
Texas A&M announced that it will pay bonuses of $10,000 for good student evaluations. Fred Moss of SMU called this a bad idea in an email to the AALS Teaching Methods Section. He fears a “‘race to the bottom,’ with professors vying with each other to be the easiest, least demanding, spoon-feeders amongst their peers.”
I don’t know whether or not I should share Fred’s concerns. I assume that Texas A&M considered this possibility before implementing the incentive plan. It seems to me that a lot will depend on the content of the student evaluation forms.
Fred’s comments, however, do raise the important question of how law schools should encourage good teaching. For too long, law professors have been rewarded primarily on the basis of their scholarship with little more than lip service given to the quality of their teaching. Consequentially, many law teachers have not strived to be excellent teachers.
I think we all agree that law schools should encourage their faculties to strive to be excellent teachers. If so, what can law schools do to provide encouragement? If not through bonuses based on student evaluations, then how?
I look forward to reading your responses.
Roy
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Posted on February 6, 2009 by Antoinette Sedillo Lopez
I just finished the interview process for the deanship at my law school, the University of New Mexico, and I am pleased to say that Best Practices for Legal Education was all over it. In presenting my vision for the law school, I presented the concept of Continue reading →
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Posted on January 26, 2009 by dmaranville
Save the date: September 11-13, 2009 at University of Denver.
The topic: Assessment.
Should be another good one. More information to follow as it becomes available. Thanks to Denver Dean Beto Juarez and chair of the Conference organizing committee Roberto Corrado!
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Posted on January 18, 2009 by Peter Joy
The Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on Clinical Legal Education joined with the Section on Professional Responsibility to sponsor a program at the 2009 AALS Annual Meeting. The first panel focused on the development of legal ethics in law schools and the effects of clinical legal education on graduates. I will post something about that panel in the next few days, but this post will focus on the second panel- which was entitled ” Innovative Curricular Developments: Implementing Best Practices for Educating Lawyers.” This panel demonstrated methods for providing criteria-referenced evaluations in real-client clinical courses as well as for use in simulations. Continue reading →
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Posted on January 15, 2009 by Carolyn Grose
The Equal Justice Works Guide to Law Schools is the new iteration of the E-Guide to Public Service at America’s Law Schools. The Guide highlights law school practices that encourage students to engage in public service, and equip students with the skills necessary to meet the legal needs of the underserved. It documents curricular and co-curricular innovations. It provides a resource for law school applicants to find schools that meet both their practical needs and educational goals without the distraction of lists and rankings. Because each law school is unique in its mission, culture and student engagement, the Guide is structured so that every school can show off its strengths, from clinics to career services.
The 2009 online survey is available now. Completed surveys are due February 16, 2009. Find out who at your school is in charge of filling the survey out and make sure they have the information they need to best represent your school’s public interest strengths.
It is worth noting that this is the only resource external to the law schools’ own websites or admissions materials that highlights clinical and other public service programs, and is marketed to prospective students. Don’t we all want prospective students asking admissions people about clinical opportunities and making decisions about which school to attend in part because of clinical, extern and pro bono offerings? Of course! So it behooves us all tohelp make sure our schools’ descriptions are accurate and complete!
For more information about the Guide, visit www.equaljusticeworks.org/communities/lawschools/guide/faq, or contact Charlene E. Gomes at (202)466-3686 ext. 108, or cgomes@equaljusticeworks.org.
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Posted on January 14, 2009 by glesnerb
Reflecting on the recent AALS conference, a colleague and I were speaking about how engaging we always found programs presented by the Academic Support and Teaching Methods section because the presenters always try to model good teaching along with conveying interesting ideas and insights. This year’s program, co-sponsored by these sections, was a particularly good example. The program was “Teaching to the Entire Class: Innovative and Effective Instruction to Engage Every Student” and it delivered what it advertised: after three hours, the roomful of professors remained energized and educated. Continue reading →
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Posted on January 13, 2009 by Carolyn Grose
A sampling of the Balance in Legal Education session at the AALS Annual Meeting: Continue reading →
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Posted on January 5, 2009 by Carolyn Grose
From Andi Curcio, chair of SALT’s Issues in Legal Education Committee, formerly Bar Exam Committee:
Many of you said you noticed (subjectively) a difference in the quality of answers if students had “time to think”. It might be interesting to do an empirical study on that issue to see, if in fact, it made a difference. Perhaps someone interested in exploring this issue could keep the current set of bluebooks in which you didn’t give “think time” and give the same exam questions next year adding a “think time” variable and compare answers.
If anyone is interested in doing this, let me know and I’ll be happy to help set up the study’s design. I am currently heading a Society of American Law Teacher’s committee on assessment issues and we are working with faculty across the country to begin empirically evaluating some of our assessment observations/assumptions.
Email Andi Curcio for more information (acurcio@gsu.edu)
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Posted on December 27, 2008 by Mary A. Lynch
THE BEST PRACTICES IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE plans to meet in San Diego during the AALS Conference to discuss next steps in advancing reform in and rejuvenation of legal education. One item on the agenda will be ways to update and improve this BEST PRACTICES BLOG.
To prepare for that meeting, I would appreciate posts describing what you like about this site and how we can make it better and more relevant to YOU! Avoid grading, the scale and/or annoying relatives and take the time to tell us what you think!
Wishing you a world at Peace & real Joy in 2009,
Mary A. Lynch
BLOG EDITOR
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Posted on December 26, 2008 by Carolyn Grose
AALS Sections on Teaching Methods and Academic Support Present a Joint Workshop:
Teaching to the Entire Class:
Innovative and Effective Instruction to Engage Every Student
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 in San Diego
9 AM – noon
Marina Salon G, South Tower/Level 3, San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina
Continue reading →
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Posted on December 24, 2008 by Carolyn Grose
The Future of Education
Educational Equity in Communities of Color
January 23-24, 2009
Temple University James E. Beasley School of LawThe Mid-Atlantic People of Color Legal Scholarship Conference is designed to give law faculty of color the opportunity to share ideas for scholarly projects, workshop works-in-progress, mentor junior faculty members, and discuss critical and timely topics. This year’s conference will include presentations on topics including funding and finance, segregation – re-segregation, and school discipline and attrition. Continue reading →
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Posted on December 22, 2008 by Carolyn Grose
The CLEA Board is happy to announce that Bob Kuehn (Alabama) has been elected CLEA Vice-President, and that Esther Canty-Barnes (Rutgers), Leigh Goodmark (Baltimore), Kate Kruse (UNLV), Binny Miller (American), Jeff Pokarak (Suffolk), and Yoli Redero (Vanderbilt) have been elected to serve as board members. The CLEA Board appreciates deeply all of the individuals who ran for board positions, as well as our membership who voted to fill these important positions. We look forward to working with you and for you in the New Year.
Happy Holidays,
The CLEA Board
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Posted on December 18, 2008 by Antoinette Sedillo Lopez
SAVE THE DATE
June 7-9, 2009
Third Annual Indian Law Clinics and Externship Programs: Symposium and Workshop
Sponsors
Southwest Indian Law Clinic UNM School of Law
University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Contributors
The Tribal Law Practice Clinic Washburn University School of Law
Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Where: Isleta Casino & Resort, Pueblo of Isleta (located just south of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Web site: http://www.isleta-casino.com Continue reading →
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Posted on December 15, 2008 by Antoinette Sedillo Lopez
The Best Practices book suggests that a law school curriculum should focus on knowlege, skills and values that are relevant to the practice of law. I believe that cross-cultural knowledge, intercultural communication and self-awareness are very important to the effective practice of law and will become even more important as our world continues to shrink. The following is a little excerpt from an email Professor Joe Harbaugh sent me about my article Making and Breaking Habits:
I was amused by the “political correctness”/faculty agenda reactions of some of your students; in the field of business, the experiential and survey research on negotiation over the last decade is dominated by cross-cultural studies. For many lawyers, these aren’t “soft” issues; they’re about as tough as they get! Today’s lawyers must be conscious of and astute about the questions you address if they are to adequately represent their clients. Indeed, many of them also may be required to “teach” their clients about the importance of being culturally conscious to successfully conclude a transaction or resolve a dispute.
I love getting support for teaching about these issues! Thanks Joe!
Filed under: Best Practices & Curriculum, Best Practices, Diversity & Social Justice, Who is Using the Best Practices Book? | Tagged: cultural competence, cultural knowlege, intercultural communication, self awareness | Comments Off on The Importance of Training Cross-Cultural Practice Skills
Best Practices for Legal Education 