Opportunities for Interaction:Improving Student Engagement in the Law School Setting

Bonnie McAlisterElon University School of Law

The Approach at Elon

•The Premise

•The Process

•The Product

The Premise

•Lawyers As Leaders

•Traditional Vs. Experiential

The Process- 1L Year:Awareness of Self

•Assessment Instruments and Activities

•Preceptors

•Winter Term Leadership Program

•Individual Development Plan

Team Building Activities

The Process- 1L Year:Awareness of Self

•Assessment Instruments and Activities

•Preceptors

•Winter Term Leadership Program

•Individual Development Plan

The Process-2L Year:

Awareness of Others

•Winter Term Problem Solving

•Revisiting the Individual Development Plan

The Process- 3L Year:Awareness of Wider Community

•Capstone Leadership Project

The Process:Continuous Throughout the Three Years

•Monthly Receptions with the Local Bar

•Participation in the “Innocence Project”

•Attendance at Community Lecture Series on Relevant Topics

•Participation in and Operation of Clinics

Monthly reception With Local Bar

Innocence Project

Community Lecture Series(Former Chief Justice Sandra Day O’Conner)

Tax Clinic

The Product

•A Lawyer with a command of the law

•A Lawyer with genuine people skills

▫Sensitive

▫Interactive

▫Engaging

The Product

At the end of the day, lawyers are sought as leaders for their analytical skills.

Elon University School of Law intentionally prepares students to fill those leadership

roles.