Elon Law professor Faith Rivers James recently presented a paper on leadership as part of the Association of Leadership Educators (ALE) annual conference. The 2010 ALE Conference, titled "Learning, Leading, Serving" was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 20 to 23.
At the conference, Rivers James presented the paper, “Engaging Law Students in Leadership.” Her paper highlighted Elon Law’s leadership program, and it considered the progressive structure of a comprehensive law and leadership program. The paper also prescribed the Public Law and Leadership course as a model of engaged learning and leadership development that offers replication opportunities for programs that seek to engage students in public law and policy issues.
At Elon Law, Rivers James teaches the second-year course Public Law and Leadership. Law students work collaboratively in the course to address legal problems for nonprofit organizations and government agencies in the central North Carolina region. Under the supervision of law professors, students work in model law firms, employing client interviewing techniques, legal research methods, and written and oral communication skills to develop memoranda and presentations for their clients. In-class discussions explore the interpersonal aspects of team leadership. Executive coaches assist students in assessing their individual leadership styles and establishing goals for interpersonal development. Students emerge from the class with a view of the skills expected of lawyers in the profession and in public leadership roles.
“Elon Law is breaking new ground in legal education through its dual focus on engaged learning and leadership in the law,” River James explains. “Elon Law’s experience offers significant lessons for collegiate and graduate leadership service learning, as well as legal pro bono programs and professional development initiatives.”
The mission of the ALE is to strengthen and sustain the expertise of professional leadership educators.
Click here for more information about Rivers James.
By Danielle Appelman, L’12