Bridging Divides: Fostering Students’ Abilities to Overcome Difference and Create Connection

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Session Type: Concurrent Sessions

Session Capacity: N/A

Location: N/A

Room: Franciscan A

Floor: Ballroom Level

Students in both in-house clinics and externship courses face polarization in many different ways. They may be working on cases that are unpopular with the public or with friends and family members. Within the class they may have different views about how to approach a case or which clients to represent. In an externship class, students may actually be on the opposite side of cases. This session will explore the opportunities to address polarization that are present in both in-house clinics and externship courses. It also aims to reduce polarization between in-house and externship faculty by identifying shared teaching techniques and by learning from each other’s pedagogy. The presenters come from the ranks of both in-house clinical faculty and externship faculty, with different backgrounds and experiences. They represent different kinds of clients and teach different kinds of classes. But they share a commitment to helping students learn how to address and deal with polarization in law school, client representation, and life.
The session will start with a brief discussion of key structures and pedagogical approaches shared by in-house clinics and externship courses that make them an ideal place to explore and address polarization. It will then shift to specific class topics and strategies that can be used in both in-house clinics and externship courses that help students understand and address polarizing topics or situations. Class topics will include: implicit bias and navigating cultural difference; team building; professionalism and civility; and self-care. Panelists will discuss how they teach each topic and share assignments and in-class exercises. Audience members will participate in a team building exercise. Each attendee will leave with specific assignments and exercises on each of the class topics compiled from the lesson plans of all the panelists.