A Better Way to Teach Law School: Laurie Levenson at TEDxUCLA

Summary

In this TED Talk, law professor Lori Levenson challenges traditional legal education by emphasizing empathy, critical thinking, and real-world application over rote memorization. She shares the story of Obi Anthony, a man wrongfully convicted of murder, to illustrate how the justice system can fail and how law students can learn from these real-life cases. Levenson advocates for a more compassionate approach to teaching law that focuses on understanding the human impact of legal decisions and preparing students to become lawyers who care about justice and systemic change.

Takeaways

• 😀 Law students often struggle with traditional case-based learning, which may fail to engage them emotionally or practically.
• 😀 The goal of legal education should be to create lawyers who care deeply about justice, not just those who excel at memorizing legal rules.
• 😀 Lori Levenson uses real-life cases, like the wrongful conviction of Obi Anthony, to teach students the human side of the law.
• 😀 Empathy and critical thinking are essential skills for lawyers, which are often overlooked in traditional legal education.
• 😀 Law school should not only teach students the 'what' of the law but also the 'why'—why justice matters and how it impacts real lives.
• 😀 Traditional methods, such as the focus on case law and LSAT preparation, often fail to prepare students for real-world legal challenges.
• 😀 The case of Obi Anthony, wrongfully convicted of murder, illustrates the dangers of bias, poor investigations, and rushed legal decisions.
• 😀 Students are taught to think from various perspectives—defense lawyer, prosecutor, detective, and even judge—to better understand the complexities of the law.
• 😀 Real-world investigations, such as visiting crime scenes and questioning key witnesses, help students understand the practical aspects of law.
• 😀 Students learn that legal mistakes, biases, and system errors can profoundly affect people's lives, and they are taught to approach cases with a critical eye and compassion.

Q & A

What is Lori Levenson’s main argument in her TED Talk?

Lori Levenson argues that the traditional approach to teaching law, focused on casebooks and theoretical knowledge, does not adequately prepare law students to handle the real-world complexities of the legal system. She advocates for a more hands-on, empathetic approach that encourages students to think critically and deeply about the human consequences of legal decisions.

How does Lori Levenson suggest law students should be taught?

Levenson proposes that law students should learn by engaging with real-life legal cases and investigating them from multiple perspectives. This includes thinking like a lawyer, detective, prosecutor, judge, and even an ordinary citizen, to understand the complexities, mistakes, and moral dilemmas involved in the justice system.

What role does the case of Obi Anthony play in Levenson’s teaching method?

Obi Anthony’s case is central to Levenson’s teaching method as it illustrates the real-life consequences of wrongful conviction and the flaws in the criminal justice system. By studying Anthony’s story, students are encouraged to think critically about the investigation process, the role of police and prosecutors, and the impact of legal errors on individuals' lives.

What was Obi Anthony wrongfully convicted of, and how long did he spend in prison?

Obi Anthony was wrongfully convicted of a murder he did not commit and sentenced to death. He spent 17 years in prison before being exonerated and released.

What key concept from law does Levenson introduce with the case of Obi Anthony?

Levenson introduces the concept of 'habeas corpus,' an ancient legal doctrine that allows individuals to challenge unlawful detention. She uses Anthony's case to explore how miscarriages of justice can occur and the challenges in proving innocence, particularly when evidence such as DNA is not available.

Why does Levenson emphasize the need for law students to think like a detective?

Levenson emphasizes that law students should think like detectives to understand how the investigation process can go wrong. In Anthony’s case, the police failed to properly investigate the crime, which led to a wrongful conviction. Students are encouraged to look for clues, question assumptions, and dig deeper into the facts of a case.

What was the mistake made by the police in Obi Anthony’s case?

The police mistakenly focused on the wrong suspects based on superficial evidence, such as a bullet wound that was actually years old. They also ignored key evidence, like the trajectory of the bullet shells from the roof, which pointed to a different shooter.

What lesson does Levenson want her students to learn from Obi Anthony’s case?

Levenson wants her students to understand that legal cases are not just about applying rules but also about deeply investigating facts, questioning motivations, and understanding the human impacts of legal decisions. She stresses that future lawyers must feel empathy and responsibility for their clients and the broader justice system.

How does Levenson incorporate empathy into her teaching approach?

Levenson incorporates empathy by encouraging her students to 'feel' the experience of the client, like Obi Anthony, who was wrongfully imprisoned. She believes that law students must understand and care about the lives they are impacting, not just focus on winning cases or passing exams.

What is the ultimate message Lori Levenson wants to convey to law students?

The ultimate message Levenson conveys is that the law is not just a set of rules; it is a powerful tool that affects people’s lives. Lawyers must approach their work with empathy, diligence, and a commitment to justice, recognizing that legal errors can have life-altering consequences.