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Law School Academic Support Blog 
Resources, information, and news for providing academic support to law school students.
Post Frequency: 16.8/day Last Entry: November 19, 2009 at 10:00:00 Recent Entries: 285
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Non-traditional students and exam study
Posted on November 19, 2009All law students are into exam study mode right now. However, I want to address non-traditional students and specific study issues that they bring to the "crunch time" of the semester. Unlike many of their colleagues, they are often juggling...
Finishing up the semester
Posted on November 18, 2009Interestingly, this is about the time of year when things become very quiet for me, in both my capacity as Director of the Pre-Law Center and as an ASPer at the law school. Students start gearing up for exams, and...
Time savers for home and school
Posted on November 17, 2009Now that we are approaching the final crunch before exams, I try to help my law students find ways that they can save time on some of their tasks at school and at home. Here are some hints that seem...
Doodling vs. Surfing
Posted on November 16, 2009There was a recent article on the value of doodling while listening to a dull lecture (their wording, not mine). The study found that doodling while listening to the lecture improved retention of the material, well above the retention of...
Battles with the grapevine
Posted on November 12, 2009I must admit that at times I grow weary battling the misinformation about exam studying that stays alive and well on our law school grapevine. So much of the advice throws water in the face of memory and learning theories....
Managing The Sickness Season, Part 2
Posted on November 11, 2009Amy's wonderful post Oct. 22 on students and illness brings us to another issue of illness...our own health. As someone who has had two distinct stomach viruses and a cold during the month of October, it is important for us...
CALI Webinars: First One Is Friday, November 13th
Posted on November 10, 2009A posting of interest to ASPers from Prof. Debra Cohen, Visiting Associate Professor and Interim Director of ASP at University of Baltimore School of Law (dcohen@ubalt.edu): I thought the ASP community might be interested in an upcoming CALI Webinar. On...
NECASP Conference
Posted on November 09, 2009Just a quick reminder that the deadline for registering for the NECASP Conference is Friday, November 13. · Conference topic - Designing, Implementing and Nurturing Student-Assisted Law School Academic Support Programs. · Conference date and time ? This will be...
Working down the pipeline: P-20 educational efforts
Posted on November 07, 2009One of the fun tasks that I have at Texas Tech is being the team leader for our partnership with the Law and Justice Magnet Program at Estacado High School, a predominately minority high school here in Lubbock. The high...
Beware perfectionism in law school
Posted on November 06, 2009I know lots of law students who are perfectionists. In all prior learning experiences, they have been able to cope with this characteristic because the workload was not mammoth and the competition for grades was usually moderate. If you think...
Assistant Director Position at Touro
Posted on November 06, 2009Assistant Director Position at Touro Law Center Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center seeks applicants for a position as an Assistant Director of Academic Development. This position assists the Director of Academic Development in all aspects of Touro?s Academic...
Ways to prevent zoning out in class
Posted on October 28, 2009Although the reasons for zoning out in class may vary for students, there are some techniques that work for many students so that they can stay focused. All of the techniques have active learning in common. Sit where you will...
Director of ASP Position at Michigan State
Posted on October 27, 2009Job Posting for Director of the Academic Success Program Position Michigan State University College of Law invites applications for the position of Director of the Academic Success Program, with an anticipated starting date of July 1, 2010. This is a...
Learning Buffet for Visual Learners
Posted on October 27, 2009When working with my visual learners, I remind them that visual learning has a "buffet" of strategies and techniques from which they can choose. Each visual learner will have an individual assortment of favorites from that buffet. Some visual learners...
Assistant Director ASP Position at UNLV
Posted on October 26, 2009POSITION TITILE: The William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas invites applications for the position of Assistant Director, Academic Success Program. The law school seeks a person who will be responsible for assisting the...
Count our ASP blessings
Posted on October 23, 2009Do you ever have weeks that seem extra long? Or days that have been so hectic you don't know where the time went? Or times when you wonder if you are making a difference? ASP work takes a lot of...
Students struggling because of illness
Posted on October 22, 2009I am seeing lots of students who have fallen behind because of the cold and flu season. Some students have missed five days of classes straight; some students have relapsed missing several days a week over a series of weeks....
Hofstra University Law School Professor of Academic Support Position
Posted on October 21, 2009Professor of Academic Support Hofstra University School of Law Hofstra University School of Law invites applications for the position of Professor of Academic Support. This is a full-time faculty position with a renewable contract potentially leading to a long-term renewable...
Updated Position Announcement: St. Mary's
Posted on October 20, 2009ACADEMIC SUPPORT PROFESSOR St. Mary?s University St. Mary?s University School of Law, located in San Antonio, Texas, invites applications for the position of Academic Support Professor. This advertisement is dated October 16, 2009, and applications will be received at any...
Why do college athletes do well in the legal profession?
Posted on October 16, 2009A study by Kerma Partners and Redwood, a unit of LexisNexis, on the "stuff" that causes some associates to thrive in the legal profession can tell us a lot about the skills law schools and law firms actually value in...
Things we do as professors that drive students crazy
Posted on October 15, 2009I am often privy to information from students about the things we do as professors without realizing they are driving students crazy. If I hear it from just one student, I figure it might be an individual misunderstanding or problem....
When life gets in the way
Posted on October 14, 2009Some students seem to be "magnets" for life's problems. The same student gets ill, has problems with a significant other, has a car that dies, has a delayed financial aid grant/loan, has a family member in the hospital, and has...
Anxiety over being called on in class
Posted on October 13, 2009I vividly remember the first time I was called on in law school. It was Contracts class. I was well-prepared. I opened my mouth to respond, and nothing came out. It was probably only a few seconds, but it felt...
Brain Science for Lawyers
Posted on October 12, 2009David A. Sousa is an educator, author and consultant who has written seven books applying brain research to different groups of learners. I just finished reading his ABA book titled How Brain Science Can Make You a Better Lawyer. Although...
Dealing with negativity
Posted on October 09, 2009Stress and anxiety are increasing as the semester reaches the halfway point. More students are mentioning that they are not sleeping well, cannot focus, are prone to procrastinate, and feel guilty or depressed about their academics. In many of the...
New Resource on Mindfulness
Posted on October 08, 2009A new book that I cannot wait to read just landed on my desk. Scott Rogers has written Mindfulness for Law Students: Using the Power of Mindful Awareness to Achieve Balance and Success in Law School. The book has many...
Finishing The Week in Grand Style
Posted on October 02, 2009I have been inspired by one of my colleagues here at UConn, who finishes up with week in grand style. As a part of her job, she writes a weekly update for students in her program. The intro to her...
Director of ASP Position at University of Baltimore School of Law
Posted on September 28, 2009Director of Academic Success Program The Director of the Academic Success Program (Director) performs a variety of functions in the University of Baltimore School of Law?s Office of Academic Affairs to support the teaching and learning goals of the school...
Faculty Academic Support/Legal Writing Position at UNC-Chapel Hill
Posted on September 25, 2009Faculty Position Announcement The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Law invites applications for a full-time faculty position beginning Fall 2010 in the area of Academic Support/Legal Writing. Beginning and experienced teachers will be considered...
When it all becomes too much...make the tough choices
Posted on September 25, 2009This is not about the stress and anxiety students are feeling, but the stress and anxiety we feel at the start of the school year. 5 weeks into the year, and many of us feel as beat-up as our students....
A Sad Farewell: Charles Whitebread
Posted on September 24, 2009It is with a sad heart I heard this morning that Charles Whitebread of USC Law passed away recently. Although he was a doctrinal professor, he was dear to the hearts of many of us in ASP; his book The...
The uncomfortable road to gaining competence
Posted on September 23, 2009It is the heartbreaking time of the semester for some of my 1L students. Until now they have been telling themselves that "everything is new" and "just work a little harder" to assuage their feelings of being overwhelmed. But now,...
Balancing academics and extracurricular activities
Posted on September 22, 2009We have recently had our student organization fair for 1L students. Board of Barristers is ending advanced competitions and is about to start its 1L competition soon. Our daily announcements are full of organization meetings with interesting speakers...
Widening one's audience in academic support
Posted on September 21, 2009Some ASP professionals have very defined populations under their institutions' goals for academic support. They may work with "at risk" students or probation students or 1L students. Other ASP professionals provide services to all law students. A defined population helps...
Better briefing
Posted on September 17, 2009The last few weeks have been busy with helping 1L students become more efficient and effective in briefing their cases. In working with them, I have noted a number of common mistakes. Here are some tips for avoiding those common...
Position in Legal Skills and Bar Prep at Stetson Law
Posted on September 10, 2009Assistant Professor of Legal Skills and Director, Bar Preparation Services Stetson University College of Law is a leader in skills training. It strives to help students develop their full potential, both inside and outside the classroom. It has a dynamic...
Resources - Did you know?
Posted on September 10, 2009Since there are a number of ASP folks who have joined us over the summer and after the LSAC-St. Louis national workshop, I wanted to point out several resources that may be useful to new professionals. The ASP listserv is...
So many tasks, so little time
Posted on September 09, 2009In mid-May I always feel as though a long summer is stretched out before me with infinite possibilities. My list of essential projects is quite long. But, I always have another list of other projects that I want to complete...
Welcome to Jeremiah Ho at Whittier Law School
Posted on September 08, 2009We would also like to welcome Jeremiah Ho as a new academic support professional at Whittier Law School in California. Please make him welcome to our group. He provided the information below so that you can get to know him....
Welcome to Kimberly Ballard University of Louisville Brandeis Director
Posted on September 08, 2009Now that we are all back and settled in to our routines, I would like to introduce you to Kimberly Ballard. Kimberly is the new Director of Academic Success at Brandeis School of Law. Kimberly has sent us the following...
When Professors Say Dude: Millennial Aren?t the Only New Kid on the Block
Posted on September 03, 2009When Professors Say Dude: Millennial Aren?t the Only New Kid on the Block by Hillary Burgess Experts like Tracy McGaugh and James Dimitri have provided us with great information about how the Millennial generation is quite different from past generations...
Do they teach writing in college? Should they?
Posted on August 27, 2009Okay, seems like a simple proposition. It has a significant impact on us, especially those in ASP and Legal Writing, that deal with writing everyday. I have yet to attend a conference where someone, either at lunch, or in a...
Job at CharlotteLaw
Posted on August 26, 2009Director of the CharlotteLaw Program for Academic Success (CPAS) The Charlotte School of Law invites applicants for the position of Director of the CharlotteLaw Program for Academic Success (?CPAS?). This is a non-faculty full-time administrative position starting August 1, 2009,...
Personal reflections on a new year, new classes
Posted on August 25, 2009My last couple of posts have been about starting the school year from a more objective perspective. I always add my anecdotes as examples, but I haven't said much about how I feel about the start of the school year....
Right on Red
Posted on August 18, 2009I am a New Yorker-I was born and raised there. I went to New York City public schools and as a New York City native, I learned how to drive there. In New York City, you cannot make a right...
Negotiating beyond salary once you get an ASP job offer
Posted on August 17, 2009I wanted to follow up on Rebecca's excellent posting this summer about job hunting in ASP. A number of positions have been posted over the summer. Some of those positions may still be "in the works." There may be a...
5 Things to Remember at the Start of a New Academic Year
Posted on August 14, 2009I will try to keep it short and sweet: 1) It's a new year. Leave last year behind, good or bad. New students, new experiences, and a new dynamic in the classroom. Each class has it's own character. Each "class...
Playing Catch-Up During the Waning Days of Summer
Posted on August 11, 2009Ahh, as always, it feels like summer hasn't really begun and we are back to the grind of the school year. This is the time when my procrastination is hitting me full-force, and I have to play catch-up for all...
Dec 7: Save the Date! NECASP Conference on TA's and Student Mentors in ASP
Posted on August 05, 2009On Monday, December 7, 2009, NECASP (New England Consortium of Academic Support Professionals) will be holding its first conference at Suffolk University Law School. This will be a one-day conference that will run from approximately 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM...
Asst. Dean of Academic Support and Student Life: Campbell Law School
Posted on August 02, 2009Campbell University School of Law will be looking for an Assistant Dean in the areas of academic support and student life. Some academic support duties included in this position are consultations with probationary students, providing leadership and guidance to a...
CAREER AND JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP ADVISOR: Iowa Law
Posted on August 01, 2009CAREER AND JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP ADVISOR UNIVERSITY OF IOWA COLLEGE OF LAW The University of Iowa College of Law invites applications for the position of Career and Judicial Clerkship Advisor. This is a full-time administrative staff appointment starting September 15, 2009...
Welcome Valerie Nation to ASP
Posted on July 31, 2009Valerie accepted the position of Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at the Univ. of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. Her education includes a Juris Doctor with honors received from the Univ. of Arkansas at Little...
Job: Assistant Director for Academic Assistance and Student Counseling
Posted on July 22, 2009Assistant Director for Academic Assistance and Student Counseling Job Title: Assistant Director Department: Academic Assistance and Student Counseling Reports To: Assistant Dean of Academic Assistance and Student Counseling FLSA Status: Exempt SUMMARY Responsibility for academic counseling and directing academic, wellness,...
Job: Director of Academic Success at U Cincinnati College of Law
Posted on July 20, 2009DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS The University of Cincinnati College of Law invites applications for the position of Director of Academic Success. The successful candidate will have primary responsibility for assisting students in developing skills to reach their full academic potential...
Passion alone instead of plus legal reasoning and precedent
Posted on July 17, 2009I have just finished the first week of our Summer Entry Program. During the week, we discussed legal reasoning, legal authorities, analogies, adroit use of policy, judicial conservatism, and much more. At one point, we discussed that a lawyer may...
Careers in Academic Support/Success
Posted on July 16, 2009I want to take this time during the summer when I have relatively few ASP student-related updates to tackle another subject: getting a job in academic support/success. I have received a number of emails over the last 2 years asking...
Using Lyrics to Remember the Law, Part 2
Posted on July 14, 2009After Amy's post, I received a link to a wonderful website created by my colleague at UConn, Prof. Mark deAngelis. He and his daughter have been re-writing and recording classics songs, replacing the original lyrics with lyrics about the law....
Using lyrics to remember the law
Posted on July 12, 2009In case you missed a recent post on Stephanie West Allen's blog "idealawg" about a law student who used song lyrics to remember 1L topics, I have included the link here: Song Lyrics by a 1L for Memory. (Amy Jarmon)
Important article for our students
Posted on July 10, 2009Please check out Aspiring Lawyer Finds Debt Bigger Hurdle than Bar Exam. I think it is critical we counsel students on the ramifications of law school debt during orientation. Those of us who do bar support work will find this...
Welcome to new ASP professionals
Posted on July 09, 2009Rebecca and I loved meeting many of you who are new to ASP at the LSAC workshop in St. Louis. My enthusiasm level always skyrockets after being around you! During the summer and early fall, we try to introduce folks...
Reminder: Public Service Loan Forgiveness start(ed) July 1
Posted on July 07, 2009For all of us in ASP (at a state university or 501c(3) non-profit) still paying off our student loans, consolidation to be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness program started July 1, 2009. Check out Equal Justice Works for more...
Top 10 tips for success in law school
Posted on July 06, 2009Whether someone is just starting out as a 1L student or getting ready to enter 2L or 3L year, the following tips can help with both academic and personal success. These are my top 10 tips out of several hundred...
Goals and Happiness
Posted on July 01, 2009And another study backs up what Larry Krieger and Ken Sheldon have been telling us in the ASP community for years...extrinsic goals make people more anxious, and intrinsic goals make people more happy. Of course, the study is far more...
Love and hate relationships
Posted on June 30, 2009So often when students talk with me about law school, they make emotional statements that have to do with love and hate. Law school seems to cause people to feel strongly and not sit on the fence about the experience....
Myths and Misconceptions about Law School and Legal Careers
Posted on June 26, 2009This post was inspired by some conversations I had with other law professors and administrators at the Institute for Law Teaching and Learning conference at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Many of the things I hear from undergrads interested in...
Michigan State Law Temp ASP Position
Posted on June 22, 2009Michigan State University College of Law is looking for an Academic Success Professional interested in a temporary appointment for the 2009-2010 academic year while the Law College searches for an ASP Director. Depending on candidate qualifications, this temporary position could...
Some tips on two commonly used learning styles questionnaires
Posted on June 20, 2009I have mentioned in a number of postings and presentations that I use the VARK questionnaire for absorption learning styles and the ILS questionnaire for processing and absorption learning styles. A request came in that I share some tips on...
Are you interested in increasing legal profession diversity or in education law?
Posted on June 18, 2009There are a number of us in academic success who also participate in our law schools? pipeline efforts with public education, charter schools, colleges, and/or local bar groups. Our goal is to interest minority students in K-12 and university to...
Associate Director Position at Pace
Posted on June 16, 2009Pace University School of Law seeks applicants for the position of Associate Director of Academic Support Program to begin August 1, 2009. This position presents a wonderful opportunity for someone who wants to become a member of a vibrant law...
LSAC Academic Assistance Workshop-St. Louis
Posted on June 08, 2009I was not able to make all the breakout sessions because I don't have the power to be in multiple places at once, so I am covering just a 1/3 of what was presented. I heard only rave reviews from...
See you at LSAC St. Louis
Posted on June 02, 2009Rebecca and I will be going to St. Louis for the LSAC Academic Assistance Training Workshop. I hope that we will see many of you there. We are looking forward to seeing colleagues that we have known for years. And,...
Article on Learning Disabilities: Dyslexia and Time
Posted on June 02, 2009For those of you interested in articles dealing with learning disabilities, you will want to read the article by Suzanne Rowe in the most recent volume of the Journal for the Legal Writing Institute Volume 15, Issue 1. The article...
Distinguishing Learning Preferences, Cognitive Processing Styles, and Multiple Intelligences
Posted on June 01, 2009My post will serve two purposes; first, hopefully I will clear up some confusion about the differences between these three concepts; second, I want to plug the LSAC conference next week, and mention that Amy (Jarmon) will be discussing learning...
ASP Opening at U Arkansas Little Rock
Posted on May 29, 2009University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law Assistant Dean for Academic Support and Student Services The UALR Bowen School of Law is seeking an Assistant Dean for Academic Support and Student Services to plan, implement, manage and...
Social Networking: The good, the bad, and the ugly
Posted on May 26, 2009A bit of advice for new ASPers, and ASPers who don't like the web: as orientation nears, think about adding a session on the uses and abuses of social networking sites. Many ASPer's don't need this primer on social networking...
The Search for Shortcuts
Posted on May 21, 2009Research shows that doing one's own work creates deeper understanding of the material, greater retention, and better ability at applying the information. However, one should always be encouraged to be efficient and effective in learning. However, being efficient and effective...
Preparing for Law School, or for 2L Year
Posted on May 20, 2009Amy's wonderful post on end-of-semester grades and probation students brings me to the next stage...preparing for law school if you have been admitted, or preparing for 2L year. After the critical low-grades meetings are more-or-less over, ASP starts to see...
The ASP Version of Parental Pride
Posted on May 19, 2009Now that most of our schools have finished graduation or hooding ceremonies, I am sure that all of us in ASP felt a certain amount of "parental pride" when we saw some students walk across the stage. Each year, I...
Helping Probation Students Deal with Grades
Posted on May 15, 2009Finals finished a week ago today. Grades are due on Monday. I am beginning to get e-mails and queries from students who were on probation last semester. It is as if they have had some relaxation but also just long...
Congratulations to students finished with exams
Posted on May 14, 2009Our exams ended last Friday. By that time there were only a few students left taking elective course exams. One of which was my European Union seminar. Our 1L students finished their last exam a few days earlier on the...
ASP position at FAMU
Posted on May 13, 2009FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW Director, Academic Success and Bar Preparation QUALIFICATIONS: Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school, bar admission, demonstrated skill in legal research, writing and oral communication, and the ability to work collaboratively...
ASP Director at UK
Posted on May 12, 2009POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT University of Kentucky College of Law Academic Success and Legal Writing Specialist SM526301 The University of Kentucky College of Law seeks an Academic Success Program Director who will be primarily responsible for implementing the Legal Education Access Program...
Teaching our students to be collegial
Posted on May 11, 2009Academic Support has crossovers into many other areas of legal education; one of the most fascinating to me is the crossover between ASP and balance in legal education. The issues that impact ASP are often the same issues that arise...
ASP Assistant Director Position at Vermont
Posted on May 06, 2009Vermont Law School is seeking an Assistant Director, Academic Success Program Link to the web site: ASP Assistant Director Position 1. GENERAL PURPOSE OF POSITION: Assist the director by developing and executing classes, workshops and other initiatives to improve the...
Why Academic Support?
Posted on May 05, 2009I am just warning readers upfront that this post is about me. I will work in some stuff about the field of Academic Support in the end; but consider yourself warned: I think this post is mainly personal. Feel free...
Teaching Inspiration
Posted on May 05, 2009I have been absent from the blog for a bit as I moved to UConn. It's been a very busy time; I am planning for a brand-new 2L ASP course at the law school for the fall, as well as...
Warm Fuzzies Have Impact
Posted on May 04, 2009Academic Support Professionals work hard to provide excellent services to their students. I always appreciate the students who take a few minutes to drop off cards, write e-mails, or just poke their heads in to say "thank you." I also...
Help for Students Turning their Legal Writing Papers into Writing Samples
Posted on April 29, 2009My colleague, Herb Ramy, (DirectorAcademic Support Program at Suffolk University Law School) has recently made his locally famous paper on "Creating a Writing Sample" available on SSRN. This is a great resource for students who are trying to convert their...
LSAC Academic Assistance Training Workshop Update
Posted on April 28, 2009This year's workshop is being held in St. Louis, June 3 - 6. You should have received registration materials in the mail, but if you did not the materials are posted at: Registration Materials for St. Louise LSAC AATW. You...
Students Committed to Other Students
Posted on April 27, 2009It is the hiring time of year at Tech Law. We are in the process of choosing Tutors for 1Ls, Teaching Assistants for the Summer Entry Program, and Dean's Community Teaching Fellows for our patnership with a local high school's...
Update on Trust in the Classroom
Posted on April 22, 2009There is a wonderful piece on teaching in Sunday's New York Times. While the piece is on second career teachers in K-12 schools, the last commentator, Kenneth J. Bernstein, makes some fabulous observations on building trust in the classroom. His...
Tips for Exam Studying
Posted on April 20, 2009Students come in three general categories right now: students who have "stayed on top" all semester and studied for exams all along (Expert Exam Studiers); students who pulled it together about a month ago and got serious (Energetic Exam Studiers);...
Some Thoughts on Law School for Non-Traditional Students
Posted on April 17, 2009Whether they are attending full-time or part-time law programs, non-traditional students with families have some unique challenges. Unlike the single law student who can choose when to study and how long to study without considering others, the non-traditional law student...
Cluttered thinking
Posted on April 16, 2009I get frustrated when my students come to my office with a backpack overflowing with miscellanious papers of unknown origin spilling out of zippered pockets, unable to locate the one thing they came to my office to talk about. I...
Helping Students "Let Go" of Academic Support
Posted on April 14, 2009If you have a "formal" ASP for students in academic risk and ASP for the general student body, you are in dual mode right now; triage and separation.Triage for the students who had no academic risk factors, but come into...
Director of Academic Success Position at Mercer University
Posted on April 13, 2009The job posting for this Director of Academic Success Programs position can be found at the following link on the Mercer University web site: ASP Job Posting at Mercer University.
How May I Help?
Posted on April 13, 2009Hi, folks. Happy spring. Where I live, it?s happy autumn. The seasons in South America are the opposite of the seasons in North America. So are the school semesters, of course. But here, in Uruguay, that doesn?t concern me ?...
Bar Exam Coordinator Position at La Verne
Posted on April 09, 2009*THE UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE, COLLEGE OF LAW invites applications for the position of Bar Exam Coordinator beginning in the 2009-2010 academic year. This is a full time, non-tenured contract position reporting to the Associate Dean. The successful candidate will...
Rewards as Motivators
Posted on April 08, 2009Law students may find that providing themselves rewards for task completion during final assignments and exam studying will keep them motivated. Students should match the reward to the accomplishment: large rewards for large tasks completed; medium rewards for medium tasks...
Stress Busters
Posted on April 07, 2009Exams start here in 21 days, so the stress level is increasing by the minute. Many of my students are handling their stress well, but some have become so stressed that they are not able to get a perspective on...
Thank you
Posted on April 06, 2009Thanks to those of you who have explained the pronunciation of Houston in NY City to me. That makes a lot more sense! Amy Jarmon
Director of Academic Support Position at Southern New England
Posted on April 06, 2009Southern New England School of Law seeks applications for Director of Academic Support, a full time administrative position. Salary commensurate with qualifications. Southern New England has full-time, part-time and evening-weekend programs to serve its enrollment which is composed of over...
Beginners Brief Best By Briefing Backward
Posted on April 06, 2009When preparing my briefing workshop this semester, it occurred to me how hard it was to create a well formatted issue statement. Think about it: one of the most common formats for an issue is: whether [most crucial fact of...
Director of Academic Success Programs Southern New England
Posted on April 06, 2009Southern New England School of Law seeks applications for Director of Academic Support, a full time administrative position. Salary commensurate with qualifications. Southern New England has full-time, part-time and evening-weekend programs to serve its enrollment which is composed of over...
NYU Law Revue: We Didn't Hear the Question
Posted on April 03, 2009Although I personally think that laptops are very useful learning tools and many students use them effectively, I am well aware that some professors complain that they have trouble keeping students' attention in class because of the lure of the...
Warning: Toxic Environment
Posted on April 02, 2009As the exam period is getting closer, more students are telling me that they are having difficulty studying at the law school. Stress seems to be in the very air that students breathe. Some students are irritable and taking it...
Getting Control of Exam Studying
Posted on March 31, 2009This week is four weeks before exams for my students. A number of them have spoken to me about their feelings of being overwhelmed. Our calendar changed this year, and 2L and 3L students were bit surprised to realize that...
Academic Development Job at Santa Clara University
Posted on March 27, 2009Co-Director of Academic Development Santa Clara University School of Law 2009-2010 Academic Year The Co-Director of Academic Development works closely with a fellow Co-Director and the Assistant Dean for Academic & Professional Development ("APD") to address the academic success of...
LSAC Academic Assistance Training Workshop St. Louis June 3-6, 2009
Posted on March 27, 2009As those of you on the Academic Support listserv know, Kent Lollis from LSAC posted a "heads up" regarding this year's St. Louis meeting. Once the official announcement and registration materials come out in April, this website will post more...
Colorblindness and Power Point Slides
Posted on March 26, 2009Hillary Burgess, Hofstra, mentioned to me that Kathleen Waits, University of Tulsa, (Faculty Profile) had done a posting elsewhere about colorblindness and Power Point slides. I contacted Kathleen and she kindly povided a guest posting for me to include here...
Condensing Monster Outlines
Posted on March 23, 2009A number of law students spent their Spring Breaks catching up on outlining for each course and beginning to review specific topics for exams. Some students will have lengthy outlines that include a great deal of detail (probably over 60...
Motivating Students When the Weather Turns Sunny
Posted on March 20, 2009For those of us from climates that have suffered through a long winter, spring is finally making an appearance. With the arrival of spring, also comes the arrival of spring fever and the urge to take advantage of the warmth...
Suggestions for starting an ASP Resource Center
Posted on March 18, 2009This is a cross-post that also went out to the ASP listserv. However, I think this information would also be helpful to schools without an ASP professional, but would like to set up an ASP resource center in the library,...
The long and short of it on breaks
Posted on March 16, 2009Breaks are an essential part of the learning process. One that is frequently overlooked by law students and law professors alike. We need both long breaks and short breaks to function at our best. I just came back from a...
Students transferring after the first year
Posted on March 06, 2009About this time of year, I start getting requests for letters of reference from students seeking to transfer to another law school. Students ask us for recommendations because we are the people they got to know best during their first...
Job Posting for Dean of Students Widener - Harrisburg
Posted on February 26, 2009The Harrisburg campus of Widener University School of Law is accepting applications for the Dean of Students position. Located in the state capital, the Law School is in close proximity to the State Legislature, numerous government agencies and state and...
"Space in the Sculpture"
Posted on February 25, 2009I'd like to thank Ruth Ann McKinney of Carolina Law and give her credit for conceptualizing this metaphor and introducing me to it while I was a law student. One of the concepts my students have struggled with this semester...
Call for Proposals from the AALS Section on Academic Support
Posted on February 23, 2009Call for Proposals by the Workshop Program Committee for the AALS Section on Academic Support2010 AALS Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LouisianaAnnual Meeting Dates: January 6-10, 2010 The theme of our 2010 AALS workshop will be: ?Transforming Learning in the...
Reminder: Institute for Law Teaching and Learning Conference Proposals due TODAY
Posted on February 20, 2009A reminder for anyone who may have let this fall off their radar in the chaos of the start of the semester: The Institute for Law Teaching and Learning Summer Conference in Spokane, WA is soliciting proposals for workshops. The...
What should be happening at this time in the semester
Posted on February 16, 2009Many 1L's are confused about the time line for the spring semester. What should be due when? When should I get started? How often do I have to update my outlines? Here is my very brief, flexible time line for...
From Blame Game to Blessing
Posted on February 11, 2009It is the time in the semester when blame seems to be going around at the same speedy rate as colds and flu. Students are feeling hassled because our weather is ping-ponging regularly between sunny 70s and freezing temperatures. (At...
When concentration is an issue...there is not a magic solution
Posted on February 09, 2009About this time of year, I hear a lot of students complain that they can not get through the reading each night. They drift off, they are distracted, they can't follow the arguments. This is not an unusual phenomena; law...
Position Opening at Vermont Law School
Posted on February 05, 2009DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS PROGRAM The Director of the Academic Success Program designs, implements, and oversees the academic support program at Vermont Law School. The Director will assist all students, including those in the J.D. program, the M.E...
Second Semester Exhaustion
Posted on February 04, 2009If there is one complaint I hear everyday, it is second-semester exhaustion amongst 1L's. It doesn't matter where they fell on the curve at their school, or where they are ranked, second semester exhaustion happens across the spectrum. Students who...
Responsibility for Teaching and Responsibility for Learning
Posted on January 30, 2009I believe in humanizing legal education. I believe in life balance. I believe in improved teaching methods. I believe in diversity in learning styles. I believe in listening carefully and trying to help. I believe in bending over backwards for...
Learning Life Skills
Posted on January 29, 2009Many law students are surprised when I announce some of the topics that we will work on in our weekly sessions. They expect me to talk only about reading and briefing cases, outlining course material, and taking tests. Instead, I...
Job at Hofstra School of Law
Posted on January 28, 2009Assistant/Associate Professor of Academic Support HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW Hofstra University School of Law invites applicants for the position of Assistant/Associate Professor of Academic Support. This is a full-time, renewable contract faculty position...
Job Listing-St. Mary's Law (May be Tenure Track!)
Posted on January 27, 2009ACADEMIC SUPPORT PROFESSOR St. Mary?s University School of Law St. Mary?s University School of Law invites applications for the position of Academic Support Professor. The law faculty has recently voted to create a faculty position that can begin on June...
The Prevalence of Procrastination
Posted on January 23, 2009Many law students suffer from procrastination. In fact, some of them have perfected procrastination beyond my wildest imagination. The reality is that many of them were able to procrastinate throughout college without any adverse effects (at least not on their...
Revamping your law school strategy
Posted on January 21, 2009I just finished a workshop for 1L's on revamping their law school strategy. I always give a start-of-the-spring semester workshop, but I wanted to make this year's different. It's always a challenge to present to students in new and exciting...
An Oft-Forgotten Concern--Guest Column by Russell C. Smith
Posted on January 16, 2009As we talk to students after first semester grades come out, I find that often I neglect to address one concern that I believe they all have, yet one that is not often expressed in our conversations with students. We...
Why did I ever go to law school?
Posted on January 14, 2009As Liz stated in her wonderful posting yesterday, our minds are with our students who are struggling right now. My posting below follows up on her theme. Students are showing up in my office with the above question on their...
I Feel Your Pain-Well, Now I Do....
Posted on January 13, 2009My son's goldfish, Max, died yesterday. Ben never seemed all the interested in him after the first few days and we were happy that we got our 13 cents worth of finny fun from him in that time alone. Max...
Moving away from large lectures
Posted on January 13, 2009While this article is about MIT's move away from large lectures in introductory physics, the rationale behind the change is applicable to law schools. MIT has moved away from introductory classes in physics with 300+ students, and failure rates have....
Notes from AALS ASP Business Meeting
Posted on January 12, 2009(Please note: any errors are mine. If I made any egregious errors, let me know and I will fix. RCF) Meeting of ASP Academic Support Business Meeting January 7, 2009 Start of meeting: 6:25 pm Kris Franklin: open meeting Discussion...
Asking Faculty for Help
Posted on January 08, 2009I sent an e-mail to my faculty today asking for help so that I can do a better job for my students. I know that our students benefit when we coordinate our efforts rather than either side having isolated efforts....
Grades and Disabilities
Posted on January 05, 2009This is the time of the year when grades start coming in, and distraught students soon follow. There are numerous prior posts on dealing with the aftermath from fall grades; if you are new to ASP, I would suggest scrolling...
Thoughts on Getting Ready for Spring Semester
Posted on January 02, 2009Happy New Year to one and all! I hope that 2009 will bring both personal joy and professional success. Some of you are gearing up for your arrival in San Diego for AALS. Others of us will be on our...
Absorbing Student Stress
Posted on December 19, 2008Today is the last day of exams for 1L's. I woke up this morning with a terrible headache, and an all-over illness feeling. These are the lingering effects of absorbing student stress. It's an occupational hazard with ASP. Especially virulent...
Time for Reflection
Posted on December 17, 2008My students completed their last exams this past Friday. So, I am in a period of reflection before the university closes down for a few days. It has been a good semester for Academic Success not only within the law...
A question for those interested in publishing
Posted on December 13, 2008At the NECASP meeting, it was mentioned that the Legal Writing listserv also functions as a place for scholars to bounce ideas around about things they would like to publish, questions about publishing, and general advice on writing as scholars....
Regional Academic Support Organizations: Report from the New England Consortium of Academic Support Professionals Organizational Meeting
Posted on December 10, 2008Here is a summary of what was discussed and decided at the first meeting of the New England Consortium of Academic Support Professionals (NECASP). I am posting the summary of the meeting in hopes that other areas will decide to...
Dust Storms and Tumbleweeds
Posted on December 08, 2008When our new law school wing was completed in April, I was privileged to move over to a new office suite on the second floor. The view is spectacular because of a floor-to-ceiling windowed wall that looks out over the...
Law Students in Distress
Posted on December 08, 2008It's that time of the year again, and here is a brief reminder that we are entering the period when we will be seeing students in distress. Types of distress we see immediately before finals: Students who are unprepared to...
Quotes on Education, Learning, and Teaching
Posted on December 05, 2008I have always enjoyed finding quotes that inspire me, make me think, or pique my interest. Perhaps it is the ex-English major in me. As a result of my own interest, I tend to pass quotes on to my students...
Reminder: NE-ASP Organizational Meeting TOMORROW at New England Law School
Posted on December 04, 2008Tomorrow is the first New England Regional ASP Meeting. It will be held at New England Law School in Boston. This will be an organizational meeting, and we will be discussing a variety of issues. I am posting the agenda...
The Gathering Peasants' Revolt
Posted on December 03, 2008Because of our concerns about minority enrollment and innovation/creativity in legal education, a new book should be an interesting read for ASP professionals. The book is titled The Gathering Peasants' Revolt in American Legal Education and is written by two...
Holiday Break Reading Recommendations
Posted on December 02, 2008Exams are here at many schools, and they are starting shortly at schools were they have not started already. The very short post-exam period is sometimes marked by drive-by students running past the ASP office on the way to a...
Being Thankful during the Holiday Season
Posted on November 25, 2008Thanksgiving Break has always been bittersweet for our law students. It is a break from the daily routine of classes, but rarely has been a true break from law school. Most students have always had to study a good portion...
Pop Culture, Teachable Moments, and Using "There Will Be Blood" to Illuminate Title Statutes
Posted on November 25, 2008I am a fan of judicious use of pop culture to give context and depth to law. However, this comes with a caveat; one must be careful not to obfuscate the purpose of the teachable moment by overuse of film...
Writing Multiple-Choice Questions
Posted on November 24, 2008Did you miss the e-mail on the ASP Listserv sent by Barbara McFarland regarding the NCBE handout on drafting rules for multiple-choice questions from Dr. Susan Case, Director of Testing for NCBE? Several common techniques used by law professors in...
Position at the University of Iowa College of Law
Posted on November 21, 2008Director of Academic Support University of Iowa College of Law The University of Iowa College of Law invites applications for the position of Director of Academic Support. This is a non-faculty full-time administrative staff appointment starting July 1, 2009 at...
More Ideas than Time?
Posted on November 20, 2008Do you ever wish you had more hours in a day so that you could implement all of the great ideas you come up with during the year? As a one-person operation for 650 students, I truly wish that I...
Reminders as the semester winds down (and up)
Posted on November 19, 2008As the semester winds down, and exams wind up, it's time to remind students of the basics. I live in a very cold climate, but a frost is blasting the entire east coast, so these reminders may have a location...
Report from the NY-area ASP Directors Workshop
Posted on November 17, 2008Friday, Nov. 14, 2008, was the New York-area Academic Support Directors Workshop held at Brooklyn Law School. This is different from the conferences sponsored by the LSAC; this conference is the brainchild of Kris Franklin (NYLS) and Linda Feldman (Brooklyn...
Remembering What Crisis Really Looks Like
Posted on November 14, 2008With exams just two weeks away, some law students have started to lose perspective in major ways. Despite the current world events, they have forgotten what a real crisis looks like outside our building. They believe that papers, exams, presentations,...
New "Essentials" Series from Aspen
Posted on November 13, 2008One of my faculty colleagues, Professor Jennifer Bard, recently told me about a new volume from Aspen Publishers titled, Essentials: Torts. As a Torts professor, she has found this study aid helpful for some of her students because it explains...
Two resources for non-read/write predominant learners
Posted on November 12, 2008As students are gearing up for finals, I have received a number of requests, and corresponding reviews, of help for students who are not predominantly read/write learners. Here are a couple of my suggestions for these students that have received...
We Can?t Multi-Task
Posted on November 07, 2008I know some people will disagree with me, but we can?t multi-task. I don?t mean we can?t walk and chew bubble gum, but I do mean we can?t email friends, talk on the phone, and write a blog entry. However,...
Helping Students Manage Stress
Posted on November 05, 2008Exams start at our law school immediately after the Thanksgiving Break this year. With just four weeks left, the students are becoming more stressed each day. Those who have been distributing their learning throughout the entire semester are holding up...
Aesop's Fables for Law Students III
Posted on November 04, 2008The final re-written Aesop's fable is probably less well-known than the other two that I chose. The original fable is about a cat that has only one method of defense in danger and a fox that prides itself on its...
Reaching Out To Doctrinal Faculty
Posted on November 03, 2008With so many new folks joining our ranks, I wanted to add a suggestion about reaching out to doctrinal faculty. This is one of the more difficult parts of the job for many new Academic Success professionals. For younger ASP...
6th annual New York Area Academic Support Workshop at Brooklyn Law School Nov. 14
Posted on November 03, 2008Brooklyn Law School and New York Law School will host the 6th annual New York Area Academic Support Workshop at Brooklyn Law School on Friday, November 14, 2008. As usual, this will be a small and rather intensive gathering of...
Aesop's Fables for Law Students II
Posted on October 31, 2008I have included below the second of the Aesop's fables that I wrote for my law students in my weekly tips e-mail. Most of you will probably remember the original version of this well-known fable. The Tortoise and the Hare:...
"The Law" and Academic Skills
Posted on October 30, 2008One of the conundrums many ASP professionals run into is the use of ?the law? to teach skills. Why is this a conundrum? If more than one professor teaches the same subjects (like two Torts classes taught by two different...
2005 Post Revisited
Posted on October 28, 2008Dennis Tonsing e-mailed me with a revised link for a column that he had published in April 2005 regarding non-traditional students. In fixing the link, I read through the journal entry from Alice Marie Beard that was referenced. Two thoughts...
Aesop's Fables for Law Students I
Posted on October 27, 2008As I was contemplating some common student problems recently, I realized that Aesop had covered similar behaviors in some of his fables. So, I rewrote some fables to apply to law students and distributed them through my weekly study tips...
Real-World Examples: Heller and Dissent Among Justices
Posted on October 23, 2008I always love it when I see the skills and concepts I try to teach being applied in the real world. One of the key messages I try to impart with 1L?s is the obligation to form an opinion about...
Falling into temptation
Posted on October 21, 2008It is the time of the semester when students are surrounded by temptations. Of course, temptations were present earlier in the semester. But now, temptations have greater negative consequences: lost time in exam studying; greater stress about tasks unfinished; greater...
More on evaluating research on new programs
Posted on October 20, 2008Based on some of the feedback I have received about my post from Wednesday, I am expanding my discussion about why we need to consider our students when we are implementing new programs based on research. This is an area...
Keeping up with the research
Posted on October 15, 2008This is a supplement to Amy's post on the bibliography of bar exam articles. I wanted to add my two cents about the incredible value of the article, and about keeping up with th research in the area of bar...
Annotated Bibliography of Bar Exam Articles
Posted on October 14, 2008On April 7, 2008, I reported on an annotated bibliography on bar examination articles. I am including the text of the original post below in case you are new to the blog and missed this item. I am now attaching...
The Processing Learning Styles Part III
Posted on October 13, 2008In this final segment in the series, I want to describe the differences between active and reflective learners. In addition, I shall give some practical ways in which these two types of learners can better use their particular styles in...
Notes from the Bar Pass Conference
Posted on October 10, 2008Bar Passage Training Lesson: More Experiential Learning By Hillary Burgess Hillary.burgess [at] hofstra [dot] edu I am on my way back from the LSAC Academic Support Bar Passage Programs Topical Workshop. I cannot believe how much I learned, especially about...
The Processing Learning Styles Part II
Posted on October 09, 2008My prior column focused on four of the processing styles (global, sequential, intuitive, and sensing) and three categories of learners based on the combinations of those four styles: "Top-Down" (Global-Intuitive), "Bottom-Up" (Sequential-Sensing), and "Middle-Out" (Global-Sensing or Sequential-Intuitive)...
The Processing Learning Styles Part I
Posted on October 08, 2008A great deal has been written about the absorption learning styles: Visual, Verbal, Oral, Aural, Kinesthetic, Tactile. However, the discussions often overlook the processing styles: Global, Sequential, Intuitive, Sensing, Active, and Reflective. These styles are critical to how students process...
High Anxiety
Posted on October 06, 2008If I were to put a label on this semester, it would be high anxiety. As an Academic Success professional, I feel fairly insulated from the turbulence of the outside (corporate) world. After all, we have all heard (or seen)...
Accommodations for ADD/ADHD and LD Students
Posted on October 03, 2008Most of us work with multiple students who have been diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, or learning disabilities of some type. In fact, with each new 1L class, our Student Disability Services usually sends letters of accommodations for at least 5...
Revised Job Description for UNLV ASP Position
Posted on October 03, 2008An incorrect URL link was given in the final paragraph of this posting instead of the correct e-mail address. The correction is included in the revised job description below: The University of Nevada Las Vegas (Boyd School of Law) is...
Germ Warfare
Posted on October 02, 2008The law school has been attacked by the first onslaught of cold and flu season. I have been tempted to replace the large candy bucket in the office with an enormous vat of steaming chicken soup. I am constantly dispensing...
Director of Academic Support Position at UNLV
Posted on October 01, 2008The University of Nevada Las Vegas (Boyd School of Law) is hiring a new Director of Academic Support. Nancy Rapoport is the appointments chair and has information on her blog at Nancy Rapoport's Blogspot on UNLV Hiring about the selection...
Bar Exam Success
Posted on September 29, 2008Steven Friedland, a law professor at Elon School of Law, and Jeffrey Scott Shapiro, an attorney and investigative journalist who now works at the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, have written a recent Thomson/West publication...
Update on regional differences
Posted on September 25, 2008I wrote a while back (maybe March?) about my irritation with the hyper-focus on generational differences (The Millenials v. Gen X v. Boomers) and the under-focus on how other differences, such as region, shape classes of law students. I received...
My Faculty, My Students, Myself: Thoughts on Being New to Academic Support
Posted on September 24, 2008Corie Rosen Director of Academic Support, Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University The recent loss of novelist and professor David Foster Wallace was both tragic and eye opening. Wallace was not only a renowned thinker and...
Taking Stock
Posted on September 23, 2008Most law schools are in their fifth or sixth week of classes at this point. As I talk to students, I find that many of them are in pure survival mode. They are hurtling through the semester without any conscious...
Report from the Fall 2008 LSAC Bar Preparation Workshop
Posted on September 22, 2008I have just returned from the Fall 2008 LSAC Bar Preparation Workshop held at Southwestern Law School in L.A, California. It was a wonderful affair, and HUGE thanks go out to Paul Bateman from Southwestern, Kent Lollis from LSAC, and...
Welcome ASP'er at U of Akron
Posted on September 16, 2008We are delighted to welcome Katherine Silver Kelly as the Interim Director of Academic Success Programs at the University of Akron School of Law. Your new colleagues in ASP will be more than happy to assist you in any way...
Unexpected and recurrent challenges
Posted on September 12, 2008It's been a hectic, wonderful start to the school year here at VLS. Our students have had a brisk start, with many 1L's anxious to start their outlines and get rolling on preparing for exams. I have also had a...
Welcome to new and visiting ASP'ers at New England School of Law
Posted on September 10, 2008We are delighted to welcome Elizabeth Bloom as the new Assistant Director of the Academic Excellence Program at New England School of Law. Elizabeth's background includes teaching experience in legal writing on a full-time basis at Northeastern as well as...
New Director at University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law
Posted on September 09, 2008We are delighted to welcome Christie I. Floyd as the new Director of Academic Support at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, located in Louisville, Kentucky. Christie joined the administration at Brandeis School of Law this summer and...
Questions to ask ourselves
Posted on September 08, 2008I need to ask myself a series of questions this week "to take the pulse" of my office. Hopefully, It will help me double-check what has been accomplished as well as what still needs to be done to improve the...
What I would like to see...in an ASP casebook
Posted on September 05, 2008I was recently approached by a publishers rep and asked which textbook I use for my mandatory spring class. I don't have a book for my spring class; I cobble together pieces of different books I like to create a...
We don't serve customers, we educate students
Posted on September 02, 2008I have been seeing, and hearing, much about "customer service" lately. Customer service is important; it is what keeps people coming back to purchase products and services from retailers. What really concerns me is the move towards "customer service" in...
?How is a Professor Like a Chameleon??
Posted on August 25, 2008?How is a Professor Like a Chameleon?? By Hillary Burgess My first semester in front of a classroom, I asked myself, ?Do I have what it takes to be a good teacher?? After a few years of positive evaluations, I...
New ASP'ers
Posted on August 14, 2008Have you joined the ASP law school community over the summer? Or, do you have a new member of staff who did join recently? We would like to introduce new members of the ASP profession who have joined us since...
Welcoming the Class of 2011
Posted on August 13, 2008Yesterday was the start of our pre-orientation program at VLS, which we are calling Jump Start. This is our first year of Jump Start, and we are learning alongside our students. I feel truly lucky; I have an amazing group...
New Book on Honesty
Posted on August 13, 2008A colleague forwarded a book review link to me today, and I thought the review might interest a number of us who work with ASP. Although not strictly a title in our area, it is a new title that deals...
Welcome to new Asst. Director of Bar Prep at Phoenix School of Law
Posted on August 12, 2008I would like to welcome Jill Hudson to the ASP group as she begins her job at Phoenix School of Law. She has provided the information below so that we can get to know her. Unfortunately, she is not yet...
Quick Hints for the start of a new year
Posted on August 07, 2008Based on some of the emails I have received from various listservs this past week, I decided to compile my completely subjective list of quick hints for the start of the school year. I stress completely subjective; these are my...
Keeping Things in Perspective
Posted on July 28, 2008Human beings are so good at losing perspective when they hit obstacles. Whether the obstacle is academic, medical, financial, professional, personal or of some other variety, humans tend to turn molehills into mountains, to worry themselves into insomnia or ulcers,...
Washburn Law Journal of Interest
Posted on July 28, 2008If you were a participant at the Humanizing Legal Education Symposium last fall, you should have received your copy of the symposium issue published by Washburn Law Journal (Volume 47, Number 2, Winter 2008). In addition, you should have received...
Starting the New Year
Posted on July 21, 2008I remember the shock my mother always expressed when back-to-school sales started in July...we just got out of school, how could it be starting again? That is a little of how I feel right now...I just sent my 1L's off...
Who we are and why
Posted on July 18, 2008Summer is one of the few times in the year when I can reflect a bit about the past year, the upcoming year, improvements that I would like to make, and my reasons for being an academic support professional. Although...
New beginnings and the shock of law school
Posted on July 13, 2008We had the welcome dinner last night for our Summer Entry Program students. These students are admitted through a one-month intensive course, Introduction to Legal Studies. The course is graded and is a two-credit elective. Each student is admitted through...
One correction to my Edinburgh Musings
Posted on July 08, 2008I have found out that my original source was not totally correct. The naming and shaming that I mentioned in my last post will only occur after the final disciplinary action. Apologies. (Amy Jarmon)
Musings from Edinburgh
Posted on July 04, 2008I am sitting at a computer in the University of Edinburgh halls of residence at the moment. This week has been a busy one lecturing to Virginia attorneys on the legal system of England and Wales and attending lectures by...
Where are all the new ASP professionals? A report from AALS Workshop for New Law Prof's
Posted on July 01, 2008I just returned from the AALS Workshop for New Law Prof. Overall, the conference was a success. I learned a great deal, digesting some especially good advice on scholarship and course planning. But I was struck, throughout the conference, by...
From Guest Blogger Russell Smith: Student Engagement
Posted on June 25, 2008Student Engagement As I was riding home from the recent conference in Baltimore, I was reflecting on some of the things that I heard. One thing that struck me during this conference was Ruth McKinney?s reference to the ultimate happiness...
Report from the LSAC New ASP Professionals Workshop in Baltimore
Posted on June 16, 2008I just returned from the LSAC New ASP Professionals Workshop at the University of Maryland Law School in Baltimore. As always, the planning committee did an absolutely fabulous job, and the workshop seemed to those who attended to go off...
It's Summer, and Here I Sit
Posted on June 11, 2008Our law school is almost a ghost town. There are a few summer school students here each day. A few faculty members are in their offices. But, mainly, there are only administrators and staff in the building. The skies are...
Academic Success Postion at McGeorge School of Law
Posted on June 06, 2008The University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California has an opening for the Director of Academic Success. Please see official notice below. Basic Function: The Director of Academic Success is both a gifted teacher and an...
UNLV Director of Academic Support Position
Posted on June 06, 2008Dear ASP friends: Our colleague, Professor Pavel Wonsowicz, is leaving Boyd to join the UCLA law faculty as the Director of Academic Support. We have an opening for a Director of our program, and we plan to begin the recruitment...
Bar Exam Teacher Skill Set
Posted on June 03, 2008Now is the time we in ASP turn our focus from student concerns to graduate concerns, more specifically, concerns about the bar exam. I know some within the ASP community focus on the bar all year long, but for those...
Florida Coastal Academic Counselor Positions
Posted on June 02, 2008ACADEMIC SUCCESS COUNSELOR Florida Coastal School of Law invites nominations and applications for two (2) Academic Success Counselor positions. Responsibilities: Work with students to improve academic performance and advise students on other academic issues such as scheduling or social influences;...
Facing Academic Dismissal
Posted on May 29, 2008Students have received their grades. And, those who were on probation last semester and did not make the necessary grades are telephoning, e-mailing, and arriving on my doorstep. It is the time of year when I have to balance realism,...
Motivating Students Post-Grades
Posted on May 22, 2008It's that time of year; students are receiving their grades. Much has been written and said about motivating students after they receive their grades after their first semester of law school. I find it more challenging to motivate students after...
Positions at Florida A&M University College of Law
Posted on May 20, 2008Below is an announcement for openings at Florida A & M. Check it out. (dbw) Florida A & M University ? College of Law The Coordinator(s) of Academic Success and Bar Preparation is responsible for assisting the Director of Academic...
Inspiration by Commencement Speech
Posted on May 19, 2008Yesterday I had the privilege of attending my sister's graduation from medical school. It was a truly wonderful experience and a wonderful day. Boston University Medical School chose a non-traditional graduation speaker, and I have been thinking about his speech...
Graduation Thoughts
Posted on May 15, 2008Although many of you have already celebrated graduation, we here at VLS are gearing up for graduation this weekend. I was warned we live under something of a weather curse here at VLS; a dean was just reminiscing with me...
Helping Students Edit Their Writing Effectively
Posted on May 10, 2008Some of my colleagues at UMKC School of Law have created a "self-editing" device to help students with their writing. Prof. Wanda Temm describes it below and asks for your help in improving it. (dbw) Colleagues: Like many of us,...
Wingspread Pipeline Conference
Posted on May 09, 2008WINGSPREAD IX, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, July 27-28 2008 Starting Sunday evening, Wingspread itself runs through Monday, followed by a law-themed strand for the full day on Tuesday and also the rest of the 15 th Annual Education....
A Job Opportunity at Pheonix?
Posted on May 08, 2008Phoenix School of Law Assistant Director of Bar Prep Phoenix School of Law, Arizona?s newest law school, seeks a creative and self-directed individual to serve as an Assistant Director of Bar Prep with our growing Academic Success team. Phoenix School...
What's luck go to do, got to do with it?
Posted on May 07, 2008With apologies to Tina Turner and anyone who does not appreciate the beauty of ?80?s music. But really, what does luck have to do with exam taking? When I send my students off to take their exams, I feel like...
Teachable Moments: The Passing of Mildred Loving
Posted on May 05, 2008I am always looking for teachable moments; those times when "real life" intersects with law school teaching. This morning, a student sent a link regarding the passing of Mildred Loving, whose challenge to Virginia's anti-miscegenation law led to the decision...
2008 LSAC Workshop for New Academic Support Professionals
Posted on May 01, 2008LSAC has e-mailed and mailed materials to ASP professionals regarding this year's Academic Assistance Topical Workshop for new professionals. In addition, information has been sent through the ASP listserv. However, if you are a new professional, you may have missed...
University of Iowa ASP Position
Posted on April 30, 2008Director of Academic Support University of Iowa College of Law The University of Iowa College of Law seeks applications for a full-time Director of Academic Support beginning with the 2008-09 academic year. The College of Law is an intimate, collegial...
AALS Education Law Section Call for Papers ? "Campus Violence: Prevention, Response, and Liability"
Posted on April 24, 2008Call for Papers/Abstracts from the Education Law Section of the Association of American Law Schools The 2009 Annual Meeting of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) will be held January 6-10 in San Diego, California. The Education Law Section...
Law School Flu Season is here!
Posted on April 23, 2008Excuse me if this post is a little loopy--law school flu season is here. Law school flu season doesn't follow the same trajectory as the traditional flu season. In my experience, it is bimodal, and peaks in December and April/May,...
The Last Week of Classes
Posted on April 22, 2008It is the last week of classes here at Texas Tech School of Law. 3L students are counting down in minutes now. 2L students are anticipating summer jobs while still worrying about exams. And, 1L students are surprised at how...
The Ideal Law Professor
Posted on April 13, 2008I have done a lot of thinking over my career about what makes an "ideal" law professor or dean. I have been thinking about this more lately after Professor Michael Hunter Schwartz's call for nominations for his "What Best Law...
ASP Job Opening at Catholic University of America
Posted on April 12, 2008The Columbus School of Law of The Catholic University of America invites applications for the position of Director of Academic Support. The new Director will begin in August 2008. The goal of the Academic Excellence Program is to enhance the...
Welcoming New Faces to the Campus
Posted on April 08, 2008Yesterday was "Admitted Students Day" at Vermont. I manned the ASP table (so to speak) for several hours and had the opportunity to meet many wonderful (potential) new additions to the VLS community. One of the wonderful and frustrating parts...
Annotated Bibliography of Bar Articles
Posted on April 07, 2008Arturo Torres, Associate Dean of Law Library and Computing, at Texas Tech School of Law and Bryan J. Guymon, a second-year student at Texas Tech School of Law, have compiled a twenty-page annotated bibliography of articles from 1998 to 2007...
The Elephant in the Room
Posted on April 04, 2008It is three weeks away from the end of classes at my law school. Most students are feeling the pressure right now. Many students are telling me that they are having the blahs, the blues, bouts of depression, or burdens...
Little Earthquakes
Posted on April 03, 2008I am having a nostalgic week, mainly because I keep getting phone calls from various educational organizations reminding me that I have reunions this year (and the numbers they attach to these phrases are just too large to fathom!). However,...
Excellent Piece on Willpower (Related to Studying for Exams)
Posted on April 02, 2008Important reminder for our students as they get ready to prepare for exams; willpower requires practice and energy. We know multi-tasking, regardless of age, does not work. Now scientists are learning that we are better tackling only one task at...
Developing rubrics for students to self-correct practice exams
Posted on April 01, 2008As the semester winds down and exam prep speeds up, I am working on a rubric for students to self-correct practice exams. I am developing the rubric for several reasons, the most pressing is time management. I can't give feedback...
Bullying in the Workplace
Posted on March 25, 2008The New York Times had an overwhelming response to their last article on workplace bullying, "Meet the Work Bully", (March 11, 2008), and has continued the discussion with a new article in today's Health section, "When the Bully Sits in...
Bullying
Posted on March 24, 2008My interest is in bullying and peer intimidation among law students; however, the New York Times has a truly horrific article on bullying. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/24/us/24land.html?ex=1364097600&en=310db71ec4aeadb6&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink If we are allowing this to happen in our high schools, it's no wonder we have...
Gen X/Gen Y/Millennial law student
Posted on March 22, 2008There seems to be a great deal of discussion about the Gen X/Gen Y/Millennial law student. This discussion is distressing to me because I belong to all of those generational categories. I was born in '77, so I am a...
Saved by Spring Break
Posted on March 20, 2008Just prior to Spring Break, I noticed that many of my law students were very stressed. In part, it was due to the plethora of midterm exams and paper deadlines. In part, it was due to students' knowing that they...
Resources for Visual Learners
Posted on March 17, 2008A large number of my students have higher scores for visual learning than verbal (read/write) learning when they take learning style assessments. Obviously, they have to use both learning styles in law school. However, by converting material to visual graphic...
Report from the SALT Conference: Teaching for Social Justice
Posted on March 14, 2008Today was the first day of the SALT Conference on Teaching for Social Justice. This is a topic close to many in ASP. Many of our students came to law school with an intense passion for justice, and it is...
Commercial Law Study Aids
Posted on March 13, 2008Our students have a required commercial law course which includes both negotiable instruments (aka payment systems or commercial paper) and secured transactions. This commercial law course is one of the hardest for law students, especially those without any business background...
More from the Learning Differences Conference
Posted on March 13, 2008The Learning Differences Conference at Harvard was great. Although it was designed for Pre-K-12, there were a number of excited ideas and trends in teaching all students presented at the conference. 1) Most studies on ADHD have not been on...
Future Interest and Estates Study Aids
Posted on March 12, 2008Our students have been going through a spate of midterm exams in Property recently. Future interests, estates, and RAP are as perplexing for current students as they were to all of us in law school. I thought it might be...
Using the Star Strategy to Case Brief
Posted on March 08, 2008I am reporting from the Learning Differences Conference at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Lynn Melzer, PhD, of the The Research Institute for Learning and Development, developed a strategy for students with strong visual preferences to map information...
Contemplating learning and squirrels
Posted on March 06, 2008My third-floor office has a window that looks out at two substantial trees separated by a road. One large limb is close to the adjacent wing which is a good 50 feet of angular brick walls from my window. The...
Linking Difficult Tasks to Positive Rewards
Posted on March 03, 2008About this time of year, it's hard to motivate students to keep going. They are tired, and if they are not in the top 20% of the class, they don't see the point of working hard anymore. It's hard to...
Are you having problems sleeping?
Posted on March 03, 2008If you are like me, you spend a good bit of time talking with students who are not getting enough hours of sleep or waking up worrying or never falling asleep. A useful web site with tons of information on...
How You Live
Posted on February 29, 2008This morning as I was driving into work, the song "How You Live" by Point of Grace was playing on the car radio. A line in the song is (roughly, because I am notorious for being unable to get lyrics...
University of Denver Sturm College of Law ASP Job Posting
Posted on February 22, 2008This Lecturer, Academic Support position is a one year appointment with the possibility of continuing for an additional 2 years (12 months per year). Duties and responsibilities will include a variety of activities in the Academic Achievement Program...
Making Law Real--"A Raisin in the Sun"
Posted on February 21, 2008A crossover possibility for both Property and Constitutional Law: ABC will be airing a remake of the classic "A Raisin in the Sun" this Sunday night. This is a great example of how restrictive covenants impacted real families, and power...
Making Law Fun
Posted on February 19, 2008About this time of year, I try to bring in examples of *fun* in the law for my 1L's in my ASP class. They tend to be so discouraged, so beat-up, and it's helpful to remind them that the law...
Our Sympathies to Our Colleagues at Northern Illinois
Posted on February 15, 2008All of us at the Law School Academic Support Blog are saddened by the events at Northern Illinois University yesterday. We offer our heartfelt condolences and prayers for our colleagues there and the students and families of the Northern Illinois...
Job Opportunity in Atlanta
Posted on February 15, 2008Atlanta's John Marshall Law School is expanding its Academic Support Program and seeks to appoint a Director of Academic Support. The successful candidate will assist in all aspects of the Academic Support Program, helping students to hone their legal skills...
Website on Lawyers and Depression
Posted on February 14, 2008The January 2008 ABA Journal has a short piece on page ten entitled "Struggling against Sadness." The article talks about a website that was started by Dan Lukasik, managing partner at a Buffalo law firm who struggled with this illness....
Winter in Vermont
Posted on February 13, 2008Today was my third work-from-home Wednesday in a row, not by choice. It?s the third Wednesday since the start of the new semester I had to rearrange appointments, reschedule class visits, and spend my day bundled in blankets with my...
ASP Job UC Davis
Posted on February 13, 2008Title: Director of Academic Support, UC Davis School of Law Description: The Director of the School of Law?s Academic Support will assist in all aspects of the law school?s academic support program, which is designed to help students develop the...
More Lessons from Ballroom Dancing
Posted on February 11, 2008A few months ago, I shared my insights on how learning ballroom dancing is similar to learning law. After writing that post, I decided to work towards the my long-term dream of competing in ballroom dancing. I had seven weeks...
Job Posting on behalf of Natt Gant, Regent School of Law
Posted on February 06, 2008The following information is from an e-mail that was recently sent to the ASP listserv. Please excuse any spacing problems. Typepad is not a happy camper this morning! Regent is seeking to hire in a tenure-track faculty position an Associate...
Grammar is my Achilles Heel
Posted on February 05, 2008What do you do when?? What do you do when a student needs help with something you are awful at? This is a challenge I face every time a student comes to me with questions about grammar. I am awful...
The Elusive Balance Between Work and Life
Posted on February 01, 2008Here's and interesting perspective on the continuing struggle to balance work and personal life. The author suggests that maybe that balance is impossible to achieve, at least perfectly, and that embracing that fact can be the healthiest response. Check it...
Asst. Director of Academic Success--Vermont Law School
Posted on January 30, 2008Assistant Director of Academic Success Vermont Law School, a private, independent law school on the beautiful White River in rural Vermont, seeks an Assistant Director of Academic Support to be responsible for assisting the Director in administering programs aimed at...
Middle-career ASPer's
Posted on January 30, 2008While my introduction covers all of the perfunctory academic notes, it does not reveal why I would tackle writing for the ASP Law Blog. When Dan Weddle asked me in join in September, I jumped at the chance to give...
Welcome a New Co-Editor: Rebecca Flanagan
Posted on January 29, 2008After two and a half years as co-editor of the ASP Blog, I think it is time for me to step aside and bring in a fresh voice, so I want to introduce our newest addition to the blog: Professor...
New England Schoool of Law is seeking....
Posted on January 15, 2008Assistant/ Associate Director of Academic Support New England School of Law, in Boston, Massachusetts, is expanding its Academic Support Program and seeks to appoint an Assistant/ Associate Director with the rank of Academic Support Professor. The successful candidate will assist...
AALS Academic Support Section Business Meeting Minutes
Posted on January 14, 2008For those unable to attend this year's business meeting for the AALS Section on Academic Support, we have posted below the minutes of the meeting. Academic Support Section Minutes ? Business Meeting ? January 3, 2008 The meeting was called...
Asst/Assoc Director Academic Support Position at New England
Posted on January 11, 2008New England School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts is expanding its Academic Support Program and seeks to appoint an Assistant/ Associate Director with the rank of Academic Support Professor. The successful candidate will assist in all aspects of the Academic...
Bar Passage Counselor Position at Charlotte Law
Posted on January 11, 2008Bar Passage Counselor CharlotteLaw is the first law school in North Carolina's most populous city located in one of the fastest growing regions in the country on the border with South Carolina. Charlotte is a dynamic, rapidly growing, international city...
ASP Position at Hofstra
Posted on December 29, 2007Hofstra University School of Law is looking for a new Associate Director of Academic Support Programs. Below is the job announcement. Associate Director of Academic Support Programs The Academic Support Program Associate Director will assist in all aspects of Hofstra...
Remembering ...
Posted on December 27, 2007I remember Januaries. They begin with the AALS Conference where most of us show up to share ideas, eat too many cookies, scurry through the Thompson-West exhibit getting our cards initialed so we get the free gift and qualify for...
ABA Web List of All Law Blogs
Posted on December 11, 2007While on the ABA web site today for another reason, I came across their web page of All Law Blawgs. Many of you probably noticed the Top 100 blawgs article in a recent issue of the ABA Journal. This more...
ASP Opening at UCLA
Posted on December 06, 2007Sunny California? Here's an opportunity: Director of Academic Support, UCLA School of Law The Director of Academic Support is responsible for the academic support program at the law school. The position includes both administrative responsibilities and the teaching of traditional...
The Complete Lawyer Web Site
Posted on December 03, 2007The Complete Lawyer Volume 3, Issue 5 explores what law schools can do better. There are multiple articles that may be of interest to ASP professionals. There is also a list of blogs related to legal life and practice available...
Can we save the patient?
Posted on November 30, 2007Any student can use the services of ASP at my law school. During the semester, I keep a steady flow of appointments on my calendar. However, my regular load of appointments started to dwindle a few days before the Thanksgiving...
Sharing time & spotllight time again!
Posted on November 28, 2007First things second. Spotlight time. Presenting ... ALEX RUSKELL. Alex took over leadership of the Academic Success effort at Roger Williams University School of law this academic year. From all reports, he's doing a super job! Before this year, Alex...
AALS Second Annual Reception - Wingspread P20 Leadership Pipeline Consortium
Posted on November 27, 2007Please join us for the 2nd Annual AALS Wingspread P20 Leadership Pipeline Consortium Reception. Wingspread is a group of P-20 educators, the bench, and the bar committed to working across the educational continuum to improve participation, persistence, and success of...
Academic Support/Legal Writing Position at American U
Posted on November 15, 2007Academic Support/Legal Writing Position American University?s Washington College of Law seeks applications for a full-time Academic Support and Legal Writing Position for Academic Year 2008-2009. The position will report to the Director of the Legal Rhetoric Program...
Practice Makes Perfect
Posted on November 09, 2007I am doing a brisk business in my study aids library on practice question books right now. In talking with the students, I give them some hints for using practice questions wisely. Use practice questions after reviewing a topic or...
The Law School Culture: Cooperation over Competition
Posted on November 02, 2007At this time in the semester, I am always concerned when I see exam stress turn normally nice law students into discourteous ones and normally discourteous law students into mean ones. When students become stressed and anxious they often take...
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How to prove housing discrimination based on sexual orientation in student housing?
There are several things you can do. First of all, contact any welfare advisors,...
Can child support be terminated if a paternity test demonstrates the payer is not the biological father (PA)?
Your brother could now prove that he is not the biological father to this child ...
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Most leases are written as a one year agreement, if neither party elects to form...
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I would pray on him to not keep on harrassing me and i'm telling you it wil...
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