A Liberal Education in Law: Engaging the Legal Imagination Through Research and Writing Beyond the Curriculum

Abstract

Constructivist theory offers guidance as to the sorts of questions law school curricula should pose to exemplify legal thinking and engage students in independent thought. The questions we choose are those that arise in authentic contexts and require students to use the imaginative structures of legal reasoning and language to make their unique contributions to law and society. Research and writing across - and beyond - the curriculum provide opportunities for expression of original thought and promote education of the individual mind. A law school curriculum that emphasizes compositional education recognizes the value of each student's contribution to legal thought and provides essential preparation for the profession.

Keywords: legal education, liberal education, legal imagination, writing across the curriculum, law school curriculum