Students a lotconsider a school's reputation and employment rates for graduates whendecidingon a law school. But they may in any casewant to research their potential professors.
"The best teachers distinguish themselves by their thoughtfulness, caring about their students, heightsexpectations, commitment to studentattainmentand ability to engage their students," write the authors of "What the Best Law Teachers Do," which entrustbe released in August.
[Learn which law schools have a high median LSAT.]
Authors Michael Hunter Schwartz, Gerald Hess and Sophie Sparrow studied what makes a slap-uplaw teacher for almost five years. They solicited nominations for exceptional professors, reviewed loadsof student evaluations and observed professors as they taught.
The result highlights the personalities, teaching methods andclassroomtechniques of 26 teachers at schools across the U.S., such as McGeorge initiateof Law at University of the Pacific, University of Houston Law Center and Elon University School of Law.
The 26 professors describe how they make their office layouts more welcoming to students, emailstudents after class to show appreciation for their participation in a discussion and help J.D. candidates who struggle to grasp the material.
The obligeis squarely aimed at teachers who want to help students succeed, but the authors adducetheir research holds lessons for aspiring J.D. candidates as well.
Chapters that cover the teachers' relationships with students, their expectations of students, how they teach and how they prisetheir students may be helpful for prospective students, says co-author Schwartz, who departbecome dean of the William H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas—Little inclinationin July.
[Find a law school for your learning style.]
The authors exhaustedmuch of their research visiting professors to learn how they help students excel.prospectivestudents deciding between law schools can do a similar exercise to learn about a school's faculty.
Whentailinglaw classes, potential J.D. students can leadthemselves, "Is this aclassroomI would want to spend 42 hours in during a semester with this teacher?" says Hess, co-author and lawprofat Gonzaga University.
They can ask if teachers emphasize a traditional Socratic approach to split upunderstand their teaching style, says Paul Campos, a law professor at University of Colorado—Boulder.
"The traditional Socratic method is something that is really aimed at people who think that they want to be trial lawyers, and it's supposedto be beneficial for that," he says. "But if you're interested in doing something else that exponentnot be the best teaching style for you."
[Use law school to prepare for the bar.]
During a campus visit, potential students should also observe actualstudents to evaluate how much the professor connects with them. "Are they engaged in the class? Or are they shopping for shoes online?" Hess says.
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Materials taken from US News
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