LAW 737 Street Law
This two-credit course introduces law students to teaching law to non-lawyers. In addition to teaching, law students meet weekly for one hour or more in the law school to discuss legal doctrine and pedagogy, as well as write an academic critique of a related-legal topic as a final paper. Course subject areas include introduction to the legal system, criminal law, torts, consumer law, and trial advocacy.
The law students generally will be assigned to teach in a local area middle or high school after completing required training and classroom preparation skills. The law students will teach at least two hours a week in these middle or high schools on a trimester-long basis, generally culminating in a mock trial. Advocacy skills are developed in the mock trial settings. The law students prepare the middle or high school students to perform opening statements, direct and cross-examinations, and closing arguments. Through these trials, law students refine their knowledge of Evidence, develop communication skills and learn to lead others in a collaborative enterprise.
The law school class meetings focus on pertinent substantive law areas, review teaching methodologies and engage in experiential learning. The final paper requires a thesis statement describing its main goal, footnotes or endnotes where applicable, and a critique of a substantive law issue.
Notes
The course will be offered pass/fail or for a numerical grade at the professor's discretion.