As a first year law school student (1L), the shock and awe of the classroom process is overwhelming. Law school classes are handled much differently than any other undergraduate class taken in the past. Law school professors utilize a partial Socratic Method of teaching. The Socratic Method of teaching is thought to have originated with ancient Greek philosopher Socrates.
The Socratic Method involves questioning students and then debating legal reasoning and situational manipulation of the facts of the cases. This is known in the law school community as “hiding the ball”. The professor questions your legal reasoning in a way that will determine whether you fully understand the rule(s) of law conveyed in the case which the you discuss. Depending upon the temperament of the professor and the legal reasoning of the student, the professor may continue asking the student questions or continue asking questions of other students in the classroom.
The best way to “survive” the Socratic Method in law school is to fully understand the cases to be discussed and the application of the black letter law to a variety of situations. Ask yourself whether or not you could fully explain a rule of law to your mother or father if they were to call with a legal question. If you can explain the rule of law and legal reasoning to said laypersons, you will be able to apply it adequately in the class room.
Remember- You will feel embarrassed when the professor humiliates you in front of the class, but it will most likely be the only time it happens to you in that class for the semester.
The first year law school curriculum for many law schools, including Barry University and Florida A&M Law School in Orlando, is comprised of the following:
1) Criminal Law*
2) Tort Law- civil actions against legal entities as a result of harm done to them
3) Contract Law- the law as it applies to legally enforceable agreements
4) Legal Research and Writing- this class teaches how to perform legal research and writing it in a logical and concise manner
5) Federal Civil Procedure- the process of filing suit against a party for civil wrongs.
6) Real Property Law- The law as it applies to property rights in present and future interests.
7) Constitutional Law- the law as defined by the United Stated Constitution*
Although first year curriculums may differ from school to school, the above legal subjects, with the exception of Federal Civil Procedure, are tested on the Bar Exam via the Multistate Bar Examination, and therefore required under the Rules of the American Bar Association.
* These courses may or may not be in the first year curriculum of your law school depending on whether you attend Barry University School of Law or Florida A&M School of Law in Orlando, Florida, however, both are required to graduate at both schools.
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Comments
Your description of the Socratic Method in law school is interesting, especially contextualizing as humiliation. I use it with undergrad and grad students – different discipline. Although it's a similar process, it seems to have a different effect and vibe altogether.
I loved the Socratic Method in my undergraduate criminal law course and after my first year in law school. The truth of the matter is that it has been in use after all of this time because it works and I would not have learned as much as I did if not for the Socratic Method.
Great support and advice on the Socratic method.
Law students and the Socratic method go hand-in-hand. Good explanation.
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