Clinical Transitions: Continuity and Generational Change

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Session Type: Concurrent Sessions

Session Capacity: N/A

Hotel: N/A

Room: Franciscan C

Floor: Ballroom Level

We are in the midst of a significant generational change in clinical legal education. Most of those in the 1970’s who played critical roles in the founding of modern clinical education are no longer active in clinical teaching, and many of those who joined that endeavor in the 1980s have also left clinical teaching or are contemplating change. Over the last forty or so years, succeeding generations of clinicians have expanded, reshaped, and enriched the visions of the founders. They have taken up leadership, providing revitalization fueled by commitment, creativity, and energy, producing continuing transformation of clinical education. The three of us were not there at the earliest stages of the founding but joined soon thereafter in the formative project. Two of us have decided to retire. Collectively, we have almost 125 years of clinical teaching experience. All of us are at schools that are navigating this generational shift that presents opportunities, as well as challenges. Our session will provide a chance for clinicians, old and new, to reflect on this generational change. We will identify key characteristics of clinical legal education as it has developed from the early 1980s to the present, as well as key contributions clinicians have made to the intellectual, pedagogical, programmatic, and political aspects of clinical education and legal education. Attendees will be asked to describe what they see as the key challenges they, or their clinical program, are facing with regard to generational change, as well as the opportunities this shift may provide. Through a variety of techniques—quick write, pair and share, front-of-the-room role play, and small groups that mix attendees of different experience levels—we will work together to attempt to devise succession principles for programs with retiring and soon-to-be-retiring clinicians, one that accounts for ongoing program and clinician needs and goals.