SOC293H1 Lecture Notes - The Strongest, Socratic Method, Case Method
Lecture 7: Law Education and Law School
What happens in law school: Paper Chase 1973
Case method
Socratic method – not lecturing them about principles of law but getting students to reason through legal cases
- Socratic instruction entails directed questioning and limited lecturing
- Thinking like a lawyer
Robert Granfield “legal education as corporate ideology”
Ideological implications of professional training
- A study of an ivy-league law school
Fundamental difference between elite and lower end law schools (they serve particular function)
- Elite law school – told on first day because you’re here because you deserve to be here and will help each
other out (entitled to run this world)
- Thinking like a lawyer and what are the values that are being taught
Not morally “correct” but pragmatic strategies designed to guarantee victory
- The law is not guided by fundamental principles of right or wrong but the ability to twist the law to make an
argument
- Law is simply a tool to manipulate argument, support your argument but not right from wrong
Corporate
The representation of the economic interests of large business and corporations (are valued)
- Courses offered (which courses do students say are the hardest? Intellectual endeavor)
Hard courses had to do with business, tax, security unlike family laws
What is VALUED by how things are characterized
- Daily routines of law school life
Etiquette classes, what is VALUED and emphasizes why you are really there
- Difficulty and importance of corporate law
- Placement office – hiring, parties, etc
- Fly-outs
Student reactions
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
What happens in law school: paper chase 1973. Socratic method not lecturing them about principles of law but getting students to reason through legal cases. Socratic instruction entails directed questioning and limited lecturing. Fundamental difference between elite and lower end law schools (they serve particular function) Elite law school told on first day because you"re here because you deserve to be here and will help each other out (entitled to run this world) Thinking like a lawyer and what are the values that are being taught. Not morally correct but pragmatic strategies designed to guarantee victory. The law is not guided by fundamental principles of right or wrong but the ability to twist the law to make an argument. Law is simply a tool to manipulate argument, support your argument but not right from wrong. The representation of the economic interests of large business and corporations (are valued) Hard courses had to do with business, tax, security unlike family laws.
