Making a Great Second Impression: Overcoming a Rough Start in Law School Classes

Abstract

Law professors know the importance of starting strong — beginning the semester in a way that sets the tone for a motivated and productive class. But despite our best intentions, sometimes we fail to make the great first impression we all hope for. And sometimes things gradually drift off track. Maybe it’s due to mismatched expectations. Or maybe it’s an ineffective assignment or activity that causes student motivation to stagnate or wane. Or maybe it’s due to a personality clash between instructor and students. What can law professors do to get a course back on course? To address these questions, this article draws on existing pedagogical and psychological literature about resetting impressions and expectations to help get things back on track.

Keywords: legal education, legal pedagogy, legal writing