National Jurist - January 2009 - (Page 10)

ENTERTAINMENT A road trip through law school In his new book, “1L of a Ride: A WellTraveled Professor’s Roadmap to Success in the First Year of Law School,” Andrew J. McClurg gives insight into the wonders of the first year. What to expect, when to expect it and how to respond to it. The book addresses each aspect of academic success, including the top five habits of successful law students — from interacting with professors to outlining. Ten Facts and Myths about the Socratic Method [From 1L of a Ride: A Well-Traveled Professor’s Roadmap to Success in the First Year of Law School. Copyright 2009, by Andrew J. McClurg. Reprinted by permission of Thomson West Publishing.] The Socratic method strikes fear in the hearts and minds of 1Ls. FACT. There’s nothing quite like being called on without prior notice in front of a large group of peers and expected to speak articulately and intelligently about a question you’ve never thought about before. It’s enough to make anyone anxious. Imagine you’re sitting there in class minding your own business. The professor is talking at a hundred miles an hour when all of a sudden your name rings out: Mr. Smith! A shoots at B, but misses and hits C, who loses control of her car and crashes into D, driving a school bus full of children—H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O and P—down a winding mountain road. The school bus careens into a gas pump at the exact second lightning hits the pump. In the explosion, a piece of glass, E, hits F, walking his dog, G, nearby. G gets loose and viciously attacks Q, a law student, carrying an armload of casebooks up a staircase. The books fall on R, causing massive head injuries. R is rushed to the ER by EMTs, gets CPR from an RN and an IV from an MD, but he’s DOA. To make matters worse, his HMO refuses to pay for his MRI. Who wins? [Three second pause.] Quick, quick, Mr. Smith! We don’t have all day. There’s no way around it. Even when wielded in a humane manner, the process is inherently intimidating. One of my favorite law school stories involved literally the very first person I ever called on as a Torts professor, way back in 1987. I asked a student to state the facts of a case. In a nervous, timid voice, she stated the facts quite suitably. Trying to give her affirmation, I said, “Yes, those are the facts in a nutshell.” The student became visibly distraught. I later learned she thought I was accusing her of having not read the case and simply swiping the facts from the West Nutshell Series study aid for Torts. Those crazy law students. One common fear students have about the Socratic method is that they will blank out in a panic attack when called on. Although rare, it does happen. In fact, it happened to me. My Constitutional Law professor was a Socratic traditionalist in the truest sense. I arrived at every class anxious about being called on. One day the professor called on me in that smug, challenging way we professors enjoy. I don’t remember the question or even the subject matter. I only remember a cloud of anxiety enveloping my brain to the point where it stopped functioning. I heard the professor repeat “Mr. McClurg?” No response. After the passage of some time, probably just seconds but it seemed much longer, he moved on to another student. I never uttered a word. I share this story with my first-year students and they seem to find it comforting. 10 THE NATIONAL JURIST January 2009

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of National Jurist - January 2009

National Jurist - January 2009 Contents Hot Button: Affirmative Action Entertainment: A Road Trip Through Law School News: American Justice, Kaplan Survey, Part-time Ranking The Firm Report: Diversity Law School Online No label No label Fordham Student Honored for Public Interest Work Former Law Student's Life Lives on After Her Death Most Influential People in Legal Education Most Innovative Law Schools Your Guide to Studying Abroad Career Hotline Texas Tech Law Grads Explore Dispute Resolution Evaluating First-Year Exams Disturbing the Peace

National Jurist - January 2009

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