Opening Plenary: America Polarized: What Drives Us Apart? What Brings Us Together?

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Session Type: AALS Programs

Session Capacity: N/A

Location: N/A

Room: Grand Ballroom B

Floor: Grand Ballroom Level

The United States is experiencing another period of polarization. As clinicians, we see the divides play out in our classrooms and hallways, among our students and clients, and in the places where we and our students lawyer. We may situate ourselves – or be placed – at one end of the polarization spectrum and contribute to its effects.  We may strive
to mitigate the divides and to teach our students to lawyer effectively across them. To do so, we should first better understand what is going on in this contentious time. This session will help us to explore the current polarization
from a social science perspective: What is its nature? How extensive and deep is it? What fuels it? What dampens it? The working groups that follow will allow us to consider how the polarization manifests in our home institutions
and how these manifestations can help us to bridge the divides.