•  
  •  
 

Stevie Leahy

Publication Date

5-28-2025

Document Type

Article

Abstract

In the Fall of 2023, educators were surveyed on their inclusion of “current events” in classroom spaces (“CE Survey”). The term current events was broadly defined as: “events that are happening in the world, including recent legal decisions (U.S. or global), political events that impact the operation of the legal system, and/or social events that impact your community. This definition is intended to be inclusive.” Based on nearly 100 responses, the results indicate that while the large majority of educators agreed that incorporating current events into instruction is vital, there are still many barriers to responsible inclusion of this type of material in many law school classrooms. This Article discusses the results of the CE Survey and advocates for intentional and responsible inclusion of this type of material to facilitate student professional identity, as well as to grow students’ ability for ethical and respectful disagreement in an increasingly global society. The Article provides starting exercises, aimed at educators new to incorporating legal skills within context—they do not require an expert position on an incredibly challenging legal issue that changes with each news cycle [nor should an educator attempt this when not sufficiently qualified or informed]. Rather, the exercises are intended to place the topics they are learning in a broader context within our cultural and legal society and allow the students to grow their own professional identities. Educators embrace challenges with thoughtful preparation, clear pedagogical goals, and a commitment to fostering a classroom environment where students can critically engage with the law as it operates in society. The Article concludes that educators new to this space need to responsibly adjust their approach to match the needs of students and the mandates of the profession.

Download

Included in

Law Commons

Share

COinS