Practice-Oriented Classes You Should Consider Taking

While law school aims to prepare students for legal practice, it does not do so perfectly. Many attorneys have shared their experiences with the steep learning curve at their first job out of law school, and urged me to explore the practice-oriented courses available at my school. These courses focus more on the application of the law, through writing briefs, engaging in oral arguments, participating in dispute resolutions, and much more. Following this advice, I’ve taken a mix of doctrinal and skills based courses, and thoroughly enjoyed learning about doctrine, theory, policy, and practical considerations and honing my skills in writing, presenting, and critical analysis. I would highly recommend law students take some practice-oriented courses before graduating. Here are some ideas:

1. Writing intensive classes

These can be focused on a range of topics, including appellate writing, business transactions, or specific academic subjects. You can even consider submitting your written piece to a law review or journal for publication!

2. Legal research courses

Taking these courses allow you to hone your research, analysis, and presentation skills. Again, there are often a wide range of topics to choose from. If you are interested in self-directed research, find out how you can do this at your school by looking up professors’ interests and contacting the academic affairs office.

3. Oral argument and trial advocacy classes

These classes give you the opportunity to dive deep into a fact scenario and legal problem and then advocate for one, and sometimes both, sides in a dispute. Often you will be working with a partner or in a group – which simulates real world legal practice, in which lawyers almost always work in a team.

4. Language skills

If you plan to work in regions and offices that serve clients whose first languages are not English, it may be useful to take a language class. I’ve seen students enroll in classes offered to undergraduates, or classes specifically offered to law students, such as “Spanish for Lawyers.”

5. Negotiation, mediation, arbitration

Alternative dispute resolutions are prevalent in the law and relevant in almost every setting, reaching personal relationships and minor transactions. These courses give you the freedom to experiment with different negotiating styles and approaches, learn to tackle various factual scenarios and bargaining situations, and understand how to maximize value rather than merely divide it, or even shrink it. I have also learned a lot about the differences between a facilitated and non-facilitated negotiation.

6. Policy practicums

At my school, there are “policy labs” where students work on policy issues such as homelessness, wildfires, water rights, indigenous tribe governance, and technology in courts. Through this, I’ve been able to learn from and collaborate with stakeholders including judges, attorneys, design experts, tenants and landlords, and work with other students to present a policy proposal to address needs and provide options. I have immensely enjoyed creating a real and immediate impact on pressing issues.

7. Clinics

Law schools tout clinics as a wonderful way to gain practical experience through working on real cases for real clients. There are clinics in different areas of law, including immigrants’ rights, human rights, environmental law, criminal prosecution, criminal defense, youth and education, Supreme Court and appellate advocacy, religious liberty, intellectual property, transactions, and more. Students conduct research, interview clients, draft court pleadings or commercial agreements, and advocate in court or participate in negotiations. I have heard nothing but high praise from students of their clinic experience, and am looking forward to my own.

8. Externships

Another way to self-design your practical experience is to find an externship in your area of interest. There are externships available in government offices, judicial chambers, non-profits, where you will work closely with practitioners. Schools often offer course credit, so that you can, in effect, work part time while taking classes.

9. Industry specific courses

Legal topics interact and intersect frequently. Any practitioner will tell you that legal issues often come up together in one case, and it is helpful to be a generalist who can spot issues. If you are interested in a specific industry, like sports law, music law, or pharmaceutical law, it may be a good idea to get a head start in learning about the big issues and trends in a law school class. For example, a friend who took a class in fashion law explained that he learned about issues in intellectual property, labor and employment, privacy, and consumer protection, practiced drafted transactional documents like contracts, and reviewed the internal trade and government regulations.

10. Classes taught by practitioners or featuring guest speakers

Another way to get closer to the practice of law is to hear from those who practice it every day. Comb through the course offerings for instructors who hold a second job as an attorney at a law firm, a judge, an in-house counsel, a government lawyer, or classes where guest speakers will be invited to speak on subjects of their expertise.

While not always obvious, there are many ways to learn about the practice of the law, beyond the theory, doctrine, and academic debates. I hope that you will explore and perhaps enroll in some of these course offerings!