New Law Teachers Program

Thursday, June 24, 2004

4:00-7:30 p.m.
Registration

5:00-6:00 p.m.
Small Group Discussions

6:00-7:00 p.m.
AALS Reception

7:00 p.m.
AALS Sponsored Dinner

Welcome
Joyce Saltalamachia, New York Law School and AALS Deputy Director

Introduction
R. Lawrence Dessem, University of Missouri-Columbia and Chair, Planning Committee for AALS Workshop for New Law Teachers and Workshop for New Clinical Teachers

Teaching As Your Career
Judith C. Areen, Georgetown University
The vast majority of people who start out as law teachers retire as law teachers. Dean Areen will address the habits, attitudes, and ups and downs of successful professors over their careers in law teaching. She will discuss both the challenge of teaching a single course and the challenge of teaching through one lifetime.

Friday, June 25, 2004

8:00 – 8:50 a.m.
AALS Section on Women in Legal Education Continental Breakfast with Questions and Answers

8:30 – 8:50 a.m.
Coffee, Tea and Breakfast Pastry

9:00 – 10:15 a.m.
Learning Theory
Paula Lustbader, Seattle University
Laurie B. Zimet, University of California, Hastings
Professors Lustbader and Zimet will model a variety of interactive teaching methods. Using videotape of law students discussing their learning experiences, they will focus on the classroom from the learner’s point of view. This will stimulate a conversation about learning theory and effective teaching methods.

10:15 – 10:30 a.m.
Refreshment Break

10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Teaching Nuts & Bolts
Barbara A. Glesner Fines, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Andrew D. Leipold, University of Illinois
In this give-and-take session, two experienced and successful teachers exchange views on a variety of “nuts and bolts” issues for the new teacher, including: choosing a casebook, preparing a syllabus for students, creating notes for teaching, establishing an effective classroom environment, using traditional and alternative teaching methods, and dealing with difficult students.

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Question & Answer Session

12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m.
AALS Luncheon
Understanding Your Law School Culture/Politics
W. H. Knight, Jr., University of Washington
New law teachers must not only learn to teach and produce scholarship, but they must adapt to the institutional culture of their law schools. What does it take to be a good colleague, an effective institutional citizen, and a successful member of the community? Drawing on his experience as both a faculty member and a dean, Dean Knight will share some thoughts on this topic.

1:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Teaching Techniques
Paul Butler, The George Washington University
Ana Maria Merico-Stephens, The University of Arizona
Douglas J. Whaley, Ohio State University
Three experienced teachers will both show and tell, as they use video excerpts of their classes to demonstrate a range of teaching techniques and approaches, including traditional Socratic teaching, teaching which integrates non-legal materials and non-doctrinal perspectives into course material, and teaching, which draws on modern technology. Following their presentations, participants will have a chance to discuss the pros and cons of various approaches in small group discussions.

2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
Small Group Discussions

3:45 – 4:00 p.m.
Refreshment Break

4:00 – 5:15 p.m.
Assessment
Ann L. Iijima, William Mitchell College of Law
Professor Iijima will address four topics: principles of effective assessment, lessons learned by experienced teachers, feedback to students, resources for constructing exams and other forms of assessment.

5:15 – 6:15 p.m.
AALS Reception

5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
AALS Section on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues Informal Gathering

6:15 – 7:15 p.m.
AALS Section on Legal Writing and Research Informal Gathering

Saturday, June 26, 2004

8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.
AALS Section on Minority Groups Continental Breakfast with Questions and Answers

8:30 – 8:50 a.m.
Coffee, Tea and Breakfast Pastry

9:00 – 9:45 a.m.
Scholarship I – Finding a Topic, Setting an Agenda
Marion G. Crain, University of North Carolina
One of the most daunting challenges for the new professor is figuring out how to create a research agenda. How can the new professor approach that first article with an appreciation both for the practicabilities of succeeding with the initial piece and for the longer term implications of being able to build on the earlier work? Professor Crain shares her thoughts on these difficult questions.

9:45 – 10:00 a.m.
Refreshment Break

10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Scholarship II – The Professor as a Scholar: Nuts and Bolts
Cheryl Hanna, Vermont Law School
Professor Hanna will address many of the hard questions about the “how-to” of scholarship. How do you start the writing process? When, where and how should you submit your manuscript? How do you handle student editors? What should you do when it (finally) is in print?

10:45 – 11:30 a.m.
Question & Answer Session

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Small Group Discussions

12:30 – 1:45 p.m.
AALS Luncheon

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Reports from New Law Teachers
Craig M. Boise, Case Western Reserve University
Ani B. Satz, Emory University
This panel will include two “alumni” of past AALS New Law Teachers Workshops. They will address the variety of issues and challenges new law teachers face and tell you what they wish they knew then that they know now.

3:00 – 3:30 p.m.
What We Have Learned
Judith C. Areen, Georgetown University
A good course sometimes evolves during the term, with the professor and students, through interaction, developing new insight, and the professor wrapping up those insights with a coherent overview at the end of the term. In this session, Dean Areen will pull together the insights of the workshop, reflect upon how participants might best make use of them in the future, and remind participants of their career-long challenges and opportunities.

Download Materials

Teaching Techniques Panel : Of Learning Theory and the Passion for Teaching
Ana Maria Merico-Stephens University of Arizona

Teaching Nuts and Bolts
Andrew D. Leipold, University of Illinois

Top Ten Tips for New Law Teachers
Ani B. Satz, Emory University School of Law

Weekly Quizzes
Ann L. Iijima, William Mitchell College of Law

Teaching Nuts and Bolts
Barbara Glesner Fines, University of Missouri – Kansas City

Reports from New Law Teachers
Craig M. Boise
Case Western Reserve University School of Law

Socratic Dialogue
Douglas Whaley, Ohio State University

The “NEW” Rules for Legal Scholars
Cheryl Hanna, Vermont Law School

Teach to the Whole Class: Insights from Law Students and Learning Theory for the New Law Teacher
Paula Lustbader, Seattle University
Laurie B. Zimet, University of California, Hastings

Scholarship I: Finding a Topic, Setting an Agenda
Marion Crain, University of North Carolina