Course: Putting theory into practice – using a clinical approach to learning law

Teacher:

-  Richard Grimes- University of York

Date:

11 May, 12 May, 14 May 2020 | 18:00-19:20

Working language: English

Putting theory into practice – using a clinical approach to learning law

Monday (11 May), Tuesday (12 May), and Thursday (14 May) from 18:00

This short course provides an opportunity for students to engage actively with experiential methods of study.

Introduction

Most of us are relatively passive participants in our studies. We attend lectures (or not!), we take exams and (most of us) then move on to the next course or graduate.

I suggest that there is a more constructive way of teaching and learning the Law (or anything else for that matter) – one that puts the student centre stage and one where the students become actively engaged in the process of learning by taking responsibility, through different interactive techniques and structured reflection, on their learning. The concept underpinning this assertion is based firmly on a theoretical framework developed by academics in education (and more recently by legal educators).

Learning outcomes

By the end of this short course you (the student) should be able to:

1. identify, through group discussion, the reasons why a law school might adopt interactive teaching and learning methods
2. effectively use a range of experiential learning methods, through a set of given exercises
3. design a course or part course using some or all of the examples of student-centred learning covered in this course.

The sessions

There will be three sessions (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) delivered through the internet in which all participants will engage in discussion and exercises led by the course provider (Richard Grimes). It is essential that all participants are willing to take part in an active way. There will be no lecture!

The sessions will, subject to technology functioning, run for up to an hour and 20 minutes. Whilst the sessions will have themes and a structure depending on the progress made, there may be an overlap between each individual session.

Subject to this, the first session will focus on how most law schools operate and contrast this with the theory and practice of a law school that embraces experiential learning (often referred to as ‘learning by doing’). The second and third sessions will use case studies where students are required to play an active role in the learning process. The sessions will conclude with a summary of what has been learnt and how it might be possible to move forward using such an approach to study.

Some preparatory work

Before the sessions begin could you please think of what you value about your law school and what you would like to see change or be introduced and why. Come prepared to discuss up to 3 things that you like and 3 things you would like to see your law school do in terms of your learning.

I look forward to meeting you, albeit for the moment at a distance.