One way that law schools have tried to address the issues of plummeting bar exam pass rates and tightening ABA standards, is to create mandatory classes for students with GPAs below a certain level. These classes can start as early as the 2nd semester of 1L year and go all the way through bar prep. When executed properly, such courses not only help to identify students who could benefit from extra support during law school and the bar exam, but also give them the tools to thrive.
Unsurprisingly, students don’t usually see these courses as a positive. Many students often enter these classes feeling resentful and sometimes even hostile that they are being negatively labeled or categorized based on their GPA. This can lead to, for lack of a better term, an interesting classroom dynamic. As you may have guessed, I teach these GPA-required classes, and I regularly joke that I have the worst teaching job in the law school. But, truth be told, deep down, I actually think it is the best. Because I wholeheartedly believe that these students can and will be successful, we just have to get to the root of their struggles, and I love solving a good puzzle.
Through my roller-coaster ride of teaching these mandatory classes over the last six years, I have picked up a few tips and tricks along the way. If you ever have the privilege of teaching one of these classes, use these five tips to ensure a smooth(er) semester.
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1. Put yourself in their position
It can be easy for us as professors to stand at the front of the room and say “take your medicine, I know what’s best for you” and then get frustrated when our students don’t oblige. But think for a minute about how you would feel if you were in their position? Probably not that great. And for many of these students, there is a lot more at stake than student loans. Some of these students have risked a lot come to law school. Some are the first in their family to graduate from college, and others left successful careers to come back to law school. Regardless of their specific situation, they all have a lot riding on this experience — mentally and emotionally — and the school just told them that they are essentially failing at it. And you, as the professor of the class, are the living, breathing, physical manifestation of that failure. While it may not be entirely rational for them to dislike you, it isn’t altogether surprising. I’ve found that a little bit of empathy goes a long way in these situations and that on my hardest days, I live by the motto “I’ve never regretted being kind.”
2. Get it all out in the open
My first semester teaching mandatory courses, I made the grave mistake of trying to pretend it was not awkward and that everyone really wanted to be there and learn from me. I smiled many a forced smile that semester and acted like everything was just fine. But, it really wasn’t. They resented me for being out of touch with their reality, and in my inauthenticity, I felt uncomfortable and definitely did not do my best teaching.
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The following semester, I tried something new. I gave out Post-it notes to the class and let them, anonymously, write down any of their feelings about the class (no matter how negative). It was essentially the law school version of Jimmy Kimmel’s “Mean Tweets.” I would then read the notes out loud and we would all laugh it out. This not only gave the students the opportunity to be heard in a safe way but also gave me the opportunity to address their feelings and concerns that I may have otherwise not known about so that we could get down to the business of learning.
3. Never give up on them
In my opinion, one of the most important requirements for teaching GPA-required classes is to love your students even when they act unlovable. This means that even if they take a while to come around on the value of the class or to build a relationship with you, you have to remain optimistic and reassuring. Because, behind their tough exteriors, many of them are sitting there wondering if they are going to make it. They are questioning their intelligence and abilities. And even though they might not like you very much, they need you. They need your patience and persistence. They need you to believe in them when they don’t believe in themselves. It is of the utmost importance that you never give up on them.
4. Keep it real
While it is incredibly important that you maintain an optimistic and positive attitude, you also can’t live in a fairy-tale world of rainbows and butterflies where “everything will just work out.” It is also necessary for you to help students to be realistic about where they are and what it will take to succeed. Be sure to talk about the numbers, look at their GPA, and set realistic goals. Then, work with them to break down those goals into manageable steps. Reassure them that even though the standards are high and there may be a lot of work required to reach the goal, with the right plan and effort, they can be successful.
5. Make the class tolerable
Just because it is mandatory doesn’t mean it has to suck. I’m ashamed to say that it took me a few semesters to realize this. I like to consider myself a relatively fun person, but I used to be all business in class. While, of course, there has to be structure and clear expectations and evaluations in the law school classroom, there are plenty of opportunities to make learning fun, such as playing games, running contests, utilizing group work, and incorporating technology. Another important way to keep these classes tolerable is to not pile on a bunch of unnecessary work. Try to incorporate assignments that are relevant to the classes they are already taking. Finally, consider making at least a portion of their grade effort-based rather than performance-based, so that they can learn in a low-risk way.
So, if you are assigned, or volunteer, to teach a mandatory class, don’t despair. Look at it as an opportunity to make a huge difference for students who can really benefit from your expertise. And, if all else fails, remember you’ll learn a lot your first semester and it will get better!
Kerriann Stout is a millennial law school professor and founder of Vinco (a bar exam coaching company) who is generationally trapped between her students and colleagues. Kerriann has helped hundreds of students survive law school and the bar exam with less stress and more confidence. She lives, works, and writes in the northeast. You can reach her by email at [email protected].