First-Year Courses

Teaching Law Students How to Become Metacognitive Thinkers

E. Scott Fruehwald

Metacognition is our awareness of the learning process. Understanding metacognition and how to use metacognitive skills is a major part of becoming a successful learner. This article shows how law professors can help their students understand metacognition and develop metacognitive skills.

Michael Hunter Schwartz: If Students Aren't Learning

Michael Hunter Schwartz

Michael Hunter Schwartz is a law professor at Washburn University School of Law. Here, he discusses the importance of eliminating or reformulating exercises that do not lead to student learning.

Michael Hunter Schwartz: Techniques I Use for Teaching

Michael Hunter Schwartz

Michael Hunter Schwartz is a law professor at Washburn University School of Law. Here, Professor Schwartz describes the many teaching methods he uses within one class period to access the different learning styles of the students.

Michael Hunter Schwartz: Have Students Read Cases Like Lawyers

Michael Hunter Schwartz

Michael Hunter Schwartz is a law professor at Washburn University School of Law. Here, he gives a general overview of the structure of his first year Contracts I and II course.

Gillian Hadfield: Focus on Solving Your Client's Problems

Gillian Hadfield

Gillian Hadfield is a law professor at USC Gould School of Law. This video shows Professor Hadfield teaching in the classroom, with an emphasis on her case study method.

Gillian Hadfield: Class Debating Contract Concepts in Case Study

Gillian Hadfield

Gillian Hadfield is a law professor at USC Gould School of Law. Here, students debate contract concepts within the classroom based upon a case study.

Gillian Hadfield: First Year Contracts

Gillian Hadfield

Gillian Hadfield is a law professor at USC Gould School of Law. Here, she provides an overview of her First Year Contracts class at the law school.

William Henderson: Reflective Practice

William Henderson

William Henderson is a professor of law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Here, he discusses the importance of reflecting, refining, and learning from others.

William Henderson: Formative Feedback Is Worth the Cost

William Henderson

William Henderson is a professor of law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Here, he discusses the challenge and importance of using formative feedback when evaluating law students.

William Henderson: Data Shows Students Lack Adaptability, But It Can Be Developed

William Henderson

William Henderson is a professor of law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Here, he suggests that students are often competent, but they lack some of the "soft skills" that allow them to work with clients, work in a team, etc.

William Henderson: The Legal Profession

William Henderson

William Henderson is a professor of law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law. This video provides an overview of the first year legal profession course he teaches.

Wes Porter: It's Not About Coverage of a Highly Specific Substantive Topic

Wes Porter

In this video, Wes Porter discusses his White Collar Crimes in Practice course offered at the Golden Gate University School of Law. Here he talks about his philosphy that the course is not focused about coverage, which actually allows him to cover more topics in the end.

Wes Porter: I Hope They Come Out Like They've Had a Year of Experience Already

Wes Porter

In this video, Wes Porter discusses his White Collar Crime in Practice course offered at the Golden Gate University School of Law. Professor Porter addresses how his law school focuses on experiential learning and giving students the skills they need up front to begin their careers ahead of the...

Wes Porter: In Practice, Skills and Values Are Always at Issue

Wes Porter

In this video, Professor Wes Porter discusses the skills and values he hopes students acquire through taking his course, White Collar Crime in Practice, offered at Golden Gate University School of Law. Professor Porter talks about certain skills emphasized in the class, including: fact...

Wes Porter: Their Teaching It Back Fosters Reflection and Great Final Presentations

Wes Porter

In this video, Wes Porter discusses his first-year elective course, White Collar Crime in Practice, offered at Golden Gate University. Professor Porter talks about his teaching method, which ensures students reflect upon and retain the information delivered throughout the course. For the final exam...

Wes Porter: I Have a Duty to Balance the Prosecution and Defense Perspectives

Wes Porter

Wes Porter teaches the first-year elective White Collar Crime in Practice at Golden Gate University. In this video, he discusses his responsibility in presenting both a defense and prosecution perspective to white collar crime. Further, he discusses the importance of exposing students who enter the...

Skills & Values: Lawyering Process, Legal Writing & Advocacy

David C. Thomson

Professor David Thomson of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law has publshed a new textbook entitled Skills & Values: Lawyering Process, Legal Writing & Advocacy . Thomson differentiates the book from traditional law school texts in three major ways. First, he wrote the text as a...

Review of Contracts: A Context and Practice Casebook

Scott Fruehwald

The Legal Skills Prof Blog, written by law professors, reviews the quality of Professor Michael Hunter Schwartz’s textbook, Contracts: A Context and Practice Casebook . This review praises Professor Hunter’s emphasis on professional responsibility and practice-based learning through hypothetical...

Contracts Review Jeopardy - Contracts I and II

Michael Hunter Schwartz

This review, formatted like the television game show Jeopardy , provides a comprehensive review of the first year contracts course at Washburn University School of Law. Addressing the issues of offer, acceptance, intention, meeting of the minds, and the case Lucy v. Zehmer , Professor Michael...

Student Work: Contracts Poem - Contracts I and II

Student Author

This student work example summarizes the first year contracts course at Washburn University School of Law taught by Professor Michael Hunter Schwartz. Through humor and rhyme, the student demonstrates an understanding of fundamental doctrinal concepts learned in the course.