Bonnie McAlister, Executive Coach in Residence at Elon Law, presented at the Association of Law Teachers annual conference at Oxford University in England on April 2.
Her presentation, “Oral Assessment in the Law School Setting,” reported how assessment of oral communication competency is practiced throughout all three years of the Elon University School of Law experience.
Initial diagnostics of speaking, conducted on first-year students early in their first term, involve the filming of a brief impromptu presentation and then the provision of both oral and written feedback by the Executive Coach. This benchmark allows students to ascertain any speaking weaknesses they may have and the professorial feedback offers a prescription for correction and enhancement.
Later in the first year, in conjunction with their oral advocacy assignment, students again receive feedback on performance from the Executive Coach.
During the second-year Leadership Program, students have an opportunity to work both in small groups and directly with clients while coaches observe their interactions. Here again, students are able to receive feedback as well to gauge their interpersonal communication competency.
Moot court provides many students additional speaking opportunities, and coaching and assessment are also a part of that experience. Trial Advocacy assignments in third-year classes provide additional opportunities for speaking assessment and feedback, as does participation in clubs and organizations.
Students, by virtue of being monitored and coached and by receiving feedback periodically throughout their law school career, should by graduation be more effective in their communication skills than had they not had this intentional attention.
Click here for information on the 47th annual conference of the Association of Law Teachers.
Click here for information on Elon Law Professor Bonnie McAlister.
By Ashley Smith L’12