"But I don’t have time!" How and Why to Introduce Practical Problem-Solving Exercises in Doctrinal Courses

SYNOPSIS

Traditional legal education in the United States focused on case law and occasionally statutory analysis.  However, there has been criticism that this approach does not adequately prepare law students for the practice of law. Both the 1992 MacCrate Report and the 2007 Carnegie Report  raised concerns that U.S. law schools need to do a better job preparing law student for their work as lawyers. 

One approach to address this concern is to introduce practical problem-solving exercises into doctrinal courses.  For example, in criminal law classes, the students could negotiate a plea bargain.  Or in a contracts class, students could negotiate the contract terms.  Texas A&M University School of Law Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Cynthia Alkon, will lead a discussion about how to introduce these types of exercises into doctrinal courses.  Dean Alkon will give specific example of such exercises and discuss resources where faculty can find other examples of practical problem-solving exercises.  Dean Alkon will also discuss why introducing these types of course is valuable to students to help them learn doctrinal material and to help students develop their professional skills and identity. Dean Alkon will also address the frequent concern that introducing these types of exercises will be at the expense of learning the law due to limited time to teach the course. 

SPEAKER

Cynthia ALKON is a Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Texas A&M University School of Law.  Dean Alkon teaches Criminal Law, Negotiation, Advanced Issues in Criminal Justice, and ADR Survey.  Dean Alkon’s scholarship focuses on comparative criminal procedure, dispute resolution in criminal cases, and developing rule of law. Dean Alkon has extensive experience as a lawyer.  She began her career as a criminal defense lawyer with the Public Defender’s Office in Los Angeles County where she handled criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors to first degree murder.  Dean Alkon then joined the American Bar Association Central and East European Law Initiative and worked in Belarus as a Rule of Law Liaison.  Professor Alkon next worked for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Albania and was the Head of the Rule of Law Unit for the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) based in Warsaw, Poland.  Professor Alkon has supervised rule of law reform projects in over twenty countries in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Balkans. Dean Alkon is the Chair of the American Association of Law Schools Alternative Dispute Resolution Section and is a contributor to Indisputably.org, a law professor blog on dispute resolution topics.

CHAIR & MODERATOR

Dorcas QUEK ANDERSON is an Assistant Professor of Law in Singapore Management University’s School of Law. She graduated from the National University of Singapore (LL.B with First Class Honours) and obtained her LL.M from Harvard University School of Law. Prior to joining SMU in 2016, Dorcas was a Justices’ Law Clerk and subsequently an Assistant Registrar in the Singapore Supreme Court as well as Assistant Director of the Singapore Mediation Centre. Upon completing her LL.M, she was Visiting Researcher in Harvard Law School under the supervision of Emeritus Professor Frank Sander, who is widely regarded as a pioneer in mediation in the USA; and David Hoffman, who is known for his collaborative law practice. Dorcas’ research in the then nascent area of mandatory mediation was published in an article which has been cited globally by many, including Lord Justice Jackson. Dorcas has also been District Judge in the State Courts for almost seven years, where she conducted mediation and early neutral evaluation for civil and criminal matters, as well as published extensively concerning dispute resolution. Dorcas has been accredited by the International Mediation Institute (IMI), the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) and the Singapore Mediation Centre. She has recently been selected to be the first Singapore mediator to be on CEDR’s panel of global mediators. Dorcas’ main research interests focus on dispute resolution, the administration of justice in the courts, tort law and civil procedure.

EVENT DETAILS

REGISTRATION

This is an invitation-only event. Admission is free and by registration only. Seats are limited, please register by Wednesday, 9 November 2016.

Please note that your photograph, audio-video or other recordings may be taken during the event for use by Singapore Management University in social media, promotional collaterals, event publicity, and other related purposes.

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