Discussion Group: Educating Social Justice Lawyers

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

8-1-2012

Conference / Event Title

Southeastern Association of Law Schools 2012 Annual Conference

Conference / Event Location

Amelia Island, FL

Abstract

In this discussion group, clinicians and lawyering skills professors with expertise in a wide range of fields, including immigration, employment, housing, domestic violence, LGBT rights, and community economic development, will describe how they define and teach the skills of social justice lawyering. Some examples include teaching legislative advocacy skills; linking discrete lawyering situations to broader historical and political contexts; and choosing liveclient opportunities and simulation content that challenge dominant narratives. Discussants will also address these questions: If our charge is to train a new cadre of social justice lawyers, or to inspire all law students to view service to community as an integral part of their professional identity, what would our ideal curriculum look like? Is a good social justice advocate anything more than simply a well-trained lawyer?

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