Educating the Invincibles: Strategies for Teaching the Millennial Generation in Law School

39 Pages Posted: 28 Oct 2013 Last revised: 30 Sep 2015

See all articles by Emily A. Benfer

Emily A. Benfer

George Washington University - Law School

Colleen F. Shanahan

Columbia University - Law School

Date Written: October 4, 2013

Abstract

Each new generation of law students presents its own set of challenges for law teachers seeking to develop competent and committed members of the legal profession. This article aims to train legal educators to recognize their students’ generational learning style and to deliver a tailored education that supports the development of skilled attorneys. To help legal educators better understand the newest generation of law students, this article explores the traits associated with the Millennial Generation of law students, including their perspective on themselves and others, on education and on work. It then provides detailed and specific strategies for teaching millennial students. Though we developed these strategies in a clinical setting, they apply in both the clinical and classroom setting. As this article demonstrates, if well supported and motivated, the Millennial Generation will include extraordinary attorneys who advance the legal profession to new heights.

Keywords: clinical teaching, pedagogy, Gen Y, Millennial, Generation

Suggested Citation

Benfer, Emily and Shanahan, Colleen F., Educating the Invincibles: Strategies for Teaching the Millennial Generation in Law School (October 4, 2013). Clinical Law Review Vol 20:301, Fall 2013, Loyola University Chicago School of Law Research Paper No. 2013-021, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2345868

Emily Benfer (Contact Author)

George Washington University - Law School ( email )

2000 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20052
United States

Colleen F. Shanahan

Columbia University - Law School ( email )

435 West 116th Street
New York, NY 10025
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
421
Abstract Views
2,041
Rank
127,505
PlumX Metrics