What Does the Future Hold?

Three Trends

1. Professionalism and maturity

2. Over-protected, “everyone’s a winner” mentality

3. Cheating

Professionalism & MaturityWhen I taught Legal Writing … I went over a paper with a student for several minutes. I noticed she was looking at me strangely. She then asked, “Doesn’t my secretary just do this?”

Professionalism & MaturityAfter a month of working on the first draft of LRW I’s open memo, I received the following submission from a student:

DISCUSSION

I was really confused about this assignment! I will schedule an appointment with you!!!

All bolded. The minimum page requirement was six pages.

Professionalism & Maturity At the end of Lawyering Skills I, after endless assignments, classes and meetings about quality writing and communication skills, I receive the following email from a student: “hey professor can you email me my grade unless it sucks

then I don’t want to know LOL” It launched an article, an adaptable lesson plan, and a new writing assignment for all my students.

Everyone’s a Winner A student came into my office to discuss his case brief assignment. After explaining to him that his explanation of the court’s reasoning and holding didn’t accurately reflect the court’s decision, he responded:

“I guess I’m just interpreting the case differently.”

I … refrained from blurting out, “Well, then you’re interpreting it wrong.”

Everyone’s a Winner In a conference with a student who is very likely to fail, who had been put on notice repeatedly about the quality of his work, the student stated:

•“I’ve always been the smartest person in school. In high school, I did not work and got all ‘A’ grades.”

•“I’m smarter than my parents.”

•“I was the smartest guy in college, where I did no work and did well [a 2.9 GPA]. Everyone asked me for help.”

•I think I’ll do OK in law school this semester.”

Cheating An LRW colleague specifically prohibited any outside assistance (even proof reading) on an assignment. The student the asked his girlfriend to review his paper. When confronted by his professor, the student didn't understand he’d done anything wrong, saying: “But I just asked her to find passive voice.”