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Law-themed Education as Superhero
Raising Aspirations and Increasing
Achievement in a Single Bound1
Beth Bulgeron, Esq.
Sarah Redfield, Esq.
ABA LRE Conference
Chicago 2009
Law-themed Curriculum as Superhero
BethBulgeron@aol.com sarah.redfield@gmail.com
3
Law is Not A Leader.
4
89
%
1% 2% 4%
3%
66
%
6%
4%
12
%
15
%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
White AIAN ASPI AFAM Hisp
Practice
Population
And law is out of touch.
5Source: Miles to Go 2004 and Census
Law is a Pathway to Leadership.
6
• 100% judges
• 58% U.S. Senators
• 38% U.S. Reps
• 20% state legislators
• 11% major CEOs
Source: various Census + Congress – see notes..
Other professions are more diverse.
7Source: Adapted from ABA Miles to Go 2004 + 2000 Census
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Tota
l C
ivili
an L
abor …
Physic
ians +
Surg
eons
Com
pute
r S
cie
ntists
Legis
lato
rs
Accounta
nts
Posts
ec fac
Civ
il E
ngin
eers
Cle
rgy
Dentists
New
s R
eport
ers
Arc
hitects
Mechanic
al E
ng
Funera
l D
ir
Law
yers
CE
O
Psycholo
gis
ts
Vete
rinarians
The pipeline is narrowed and broken.
8Source: Based on prior LSA C slide + NCES data see notes.
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
AIAN
ASPI
Hispanic
Black
White
You can’t go to law school if you can’t read.
9
AGE 9 13 17White 226 266 293Black 200 244 264Hisp. 205 242 264
Source: NCES Digest Reading 2004
Source: NAEP 12th Grade Reading 2005
47% 42% 41%32% 26% 24% 22%
Black FRPL eligible
Hispanic AIAN AsPI FRPL not eligible
White
At Advanced
At or above Proficient
At or above Basic
Below Basic
FRPL = Free + Reduced Price Lunch
10
The test results are predictive and damning.
Source: Based on prior LSAC prepared slide
LSAT APPLY ADMIT
AsPI +2 +2
White +2 +1
average 153 156
avg matriculate 157
Hispanic -5 -3
Chicano -4 -2
AIAN -3 -2
AfAm -9 -6
PR -13 -12
What the math would look like. . .
TOO FEW =
+100,000
+230,000
Without repair of the pipeline, PARITY is IMPOSSIBLE
12
LAW WILL REMAIN OUT OF TOUCH AND OUT OF SYNC …
13
talking . . . talking not walkingtalking . .talking .
THERE ARE TOO FEW URMS AVAILABLE IN THE QUALIFIED POOL INTERESTED IN LAW SCHOOL.
There really is little surprise that at the law school gates
14
The legal community has tried. . . .
15
And recognized it can partner for change.
Not just at its own gates, but along the Pipeline P20, preschool to the profession
16
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We are, however, an action-oriented profession of problem-solvers and deal-makers. Let us make this project the most important case on our calendar, the biggest deal pending. The clock is ticking, and we
have no time to waste. We can and must join together to make diversity in our profession a reality,
rather than an unfulfilled promise .
Source: ABA Report, see notes.
Like Justice for Chocolate
18
Like Justice for Chocolate
19
You CAN’T CHOOSE WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW
Video entry for the State Bar of Texas"Texans on Justice" YouTube contest
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sWA2FytJoA
To change …mind the new 3Rs
20
RIGOR
RELEVANCE
RELATIONSHIP
• Signature Pedagogy
• Issues of the day
• Mentor/Role Model
• Collaborative Partners
Source: Gates Foundation
Components of a Law Themed Program
Curriculum
Methodology
Role models
Critical thinking
21Redfield et al. See notes.
Law curriculum is powerful.
• Engaging
• Relevant
• Real world experience
Law is Engaging.
23
Law Curriculum is multilayered + varied.
At its best, it is
• Sequenced
• Sustained
• Integrated
• At its best, it offers
• curricular &
co-curricular opportunities
• outside partnerships & resources24
Law has a signature pedagogy.
•Socratic•Project based•Skills based •Interactive•Multilayered + varied
Source: Newsweek, Aug. 1, 2008 25
Law curriculum is project-based.
26
Law curriculum is interactive + skills based.
27
Partnerships are Important.-
Mentoring
Internships
Guest speakers
Shared teaching
Tours /police
ride-alongs
Co-curricular
support
Cleveland Municipal School District
29
21 High Schools + 700 Lawyers
School Bd.
Bar
Law School
SOURCE: http://www.clevelandbar.org/3Rs_Site/index.html
Law fosters high expectations.
• Guidance, counseling, mentoring
• Role models
• Rigorous curriculum
• Career pathways
One caring adult
The Law community increases aspirations & persistence.
31
32
Law teaches the skills employers demand.
33Source: Conference Board, Are They Really Ready to Work?
Employers New Top 10
• Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
• Info Technology Application
• *Teamwork/Collaboration
• *Creativity/Innovation
• *Diversity
• *Leadership
• Oral Communications
• *Professionalism/Work Ethic
• *Ethics/Social Responsibility
Law theme teaches the skills in demand.
• Police
• Probation Officers
• Judges
• Paralegals
• Lawyers
• Court officers
• Law enforcement
• Investigators34
WRITING!• Followed by communication skills
35
Critical thinking IS law-based ed.
• CRITICAL THINKING…
• due process
• citizenship, reading, writing, advocacy
For example, name that rule!
Rules for Monica/Lena
© Professor Charles Calleros
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University
http://www.law.asu.edu/files/faculty/RulesforLina/chapter1.html
http://www.law.asu.edu/files/faculty/RulesforLina/chapter2.html
http://www.law.asu.edu/files/faculty/RulesforLina/chapter3.html 37
Putting it all together
38
Summary
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT LAW
• Engaging
• Relevant
• Rigorous
• Relationship based
• Record of Success
COLLABORATION WORKS
LAW COMMUNITY
• Rich in resources + relationships
• Naturals for pedagogy +PBL
• Trained and Model Critical Thinking
Legal courses should be sequenced.
The legal theme should be integrated across the curriculum.
Law themed programs should capitalize on partnerships with the legal community.
Law-themed programs should cultivate high expectations and aspirations.
Law-themed programs should include activities that are engaging, relevant to real-life, and empowering.
QUESTIONS/ TOMORROW
• If you were going to start (expand) a law-related or themed program, what do you have questions about?
• What are you worried about?
• What will you need?
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