What is the Socratic Method that Law Schools Use?

The teaching style used in law schools often clearly distinguishes it from what the students have experienced in their undergraduate studies, especially when it comes to the Socratic Method. This method is essential to law students’ legal education and challenges them through a rigorous form of inquiry rather than traditional lecturing. 

This technique is derived from the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates and it involves professors cold-calling students to critically analyze and discuss case law. This technique may seem intimidating at first, but it prepares students for the realities of legal practice by allowing them to mimic the dynamics of courtroom questioning.  

In this blog, we will explore “What is the Socratic Method that Law Schools Use” and how this educational approach enhances students’ critical thinking skills. 

Understanding the Socratic Method

Many new law school students find the term “Socratic Method” quite intimidating. This term was derived from the teaching methods of the famous Greek philosopher Socrates (470-399 BC). While roaming around the ancient city of Athens, Socrates questioned his subjects, including citizens, colleagues, and students, about various things, including the roles of government and democratic principles. He wanted to produce the truth from his subjects by asking continual questions until the truth was exposed. 

All the law school professors quickly discovered that the Socratic Method is the best way to engage a large number of students in a discussion while using examining questions to get the center of the main subject. Law schools use this method to develop students’ critical thinking skills and help them plan the law as intellectuals. 

Universities use the Socratic Method in a broad sense, which refers to the technique of teaching by asking questions. It’s not only about lecturing while students listen and take notes. Instead, law professors sit with their students and ask questions about the material together. 

How the Socratic Method Works?

Usually, law professors ask the students to give a clear summary of a case that they were supposed to read for class that day. When the professors hear the student’s summary, regardless of how accurate or bad it is, they ask more questions about things the student missed or didn’t fully explain. 

Sometimes, the professor also manipulates the facts of the real case into a made-up one to see if the court’s decision would be different. The best thing about this method is that it pushes a student who’s prepared enough to think beyond the obvious problems in a provided case and consider how it might affect things more broadly. 

The exchange of dialogue between a good Socratic professor and the student is that it makes other students think and question their fundamental beliefs about the case being discussed. Furthermore, it also sharpens a law student’s ability to think critically and prepares her/him to argue before the tough judges in the courtroom. 

The worst-case scenario of the Socratic Method is that it can be tough on students who aren’t ready and can damage the relationship between the professor and student which isn’t a good thing for learning. 

How to Take On Cold Calling?

You will get stressed when your professor continuously bombards you with questions. So, remember that the main purpose isn’t to intimidate you but to help you think critically about the law. Some law professors pick students randomly, while others create a list to make sure everyone gets a turn during the semester. 

If you want to handle a cold call, make sure that you are thoroughly prepared for class. That means you have to show up every day in the classroom, complete your reading assignments, take detailed notes, and pay attention to your professor’s lectures. Another great way is to wait before taking notes while other students are called on. 

This will let you focus on the questions, and you will understand your professor’s teaching technique better when practicing the Socratic Method. You don’t want to get caught in an unprepared situation where your professor calls on you. This can create a negative relationship between you and your professor and might even affect your grades. If you think you won’t be ready to answer any question because of an emergency or illness, then send your professor an explanation before class. 

Final Thoughts

To conclude, it’s important for law students to understand that being good at answering questions in Socratic-style classes won’t affect their grades much. What really matters is how they perform in the final exam. However, this technique does have its benefits. The Socratic Method boosts students’ critical thinking skills and prepares them for courtroom realities.

Furthermore, it encourages students to think deeply and discuss the intricacies of law openly in class. While this method can be challenging, especially during cold-calling sessions, it’s created not to intimidate students but to enhance their learning. 

Students can handle the cold calling sessions by being well-prepared for class, actively participating, and understanding their professors’ teaching styles. Proper preparation prevents negative impacts on students’ relationships with professors and helps them maintain good academic performance. 

Key Takeaways:

1. What is the Socratic Method that Law Schools Use?: It involves professors cold-calling students to analyze case law, preparing them for courtroom dynamics by mimicking real-life legal questioning.
2. Derived from Socrates: This method, named after the Greek philosopher Socrates, uses continuous questioning to uncover the truth and develop students’ critical thinking skills.
3. Engaging Discussions: Law professors use the Socratic Method to engage many students in discussions, asking probing questions to explore the core of legal issues deeply.
4. Challenges and Preparation: The method can be stressful and may strain student-professor relationships, but thorough preparation and active participation help mitigate these challenges.
5. Cold-Calling Strategy: Handling cold calls effectively involves being well-prepared, completing reading assignments, taking notes, and understanding the professor’s questioning style to avoid negative impacts on grades and relationships.