How Experienced Lawyers Can Become Effective Law Professors

A new article, Sherri Lee Keene, “It Was the Best of Practice, it Was the Worst of Practice: Moving Successfully from the Courtroom to the Classroom”, 48 Duquesne University Law Review 533 (2010), discusses how practitioners can successfully transition to becoming a law professor.   The author is a legal writing professor, but teachers of any subject can benefit from her article.  Some of Professor Keene’s tips include:

• Realize that law students do not know the terminology and procedure that is second nature to a long-time practitioner. Avoid legal jargon or explain the terminology used.  Try not to omit critical procedural steps because they seem obvious.
• Do not overestimate the students’ levels of knowledge, particularly entering first years.
• Make expectations clear to the students, and set out how the students can meet expectations.
• Use real world examples and stories.
• Lay out the steps you use to complete a given task, such as writing a brief
• Give feedback and recognize that students may be more sensitive to criticism than young associates.   Give positive as well as negative feedback.
• Read about teaching.
• Be open to student questions and feedback.  Ask students whether they thought a particular lesson or teaching method was effective.
• Work with teaching assistants to find out what the students know, and what the students are “getting”.

Thanks to the Legal Writing Prof Blog.

(Photo: C|M|LAW Legal Writing Professor Carolyn Broering-Jacobs, a former federal law clerk and law firm litigation associate)