Heart and Soul: A New Rhythm for Clinical Externships

Authors

Leslie Larkin Cooney

First Page

407

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The message of Therapeutic Jurisprudence is simple - focus on emotional life and psychological well-being and practice law as a healing profession - but the application of Therapeutic Jurisprudence to clinical teaching can have far ranging results. "Lawyers trained to be professionals have not been trained in how to respond to the anxiety, hurt feelings, and other emotions ... ," Law students arriving today in our clinical education settings require extra attention to the development of interpersonal skills for a variety of reasons. This article explores the concepts and development of Therapeutic Jurisprudence and outlines the benefits derived from incorporating it in a direct and thoughtful manner into the teaching of an extern law school clinical setting. Therapeutic Jurisprudence can provide structure to the extern class requirement and the clinical professor can approach teaching skills using it as the framework to unify the overall methodology of an extern clinic. Specifically, Therapeutic Jurisprudence can add value to the self-reflective journal assignments of clinical extern students, and the technique of rewinding will enhance the educational significance of the clinical experience.

Recommended Citation

Leslie Larkin Cooney, Heart and Soul: A New Rhythm for Clinical Externships, 17 St. Thomas L. Rev. 407 (2005).
Available at: https://scholarship.stu.edu/stlr/vol17/iss3/3