Dean Michael Hunter Schwartz’s book What the Best Law Teachers Do is highlighted in the September 29, 2014, issue of The National Law Journal. In this Special Report on Law Schools, the work by Dean Schwartz, Professor Sophie Sparrow (UNH School of Law), and Professor Gerald Hess (Gonzaga University School of Law) is used to highlight how law professors have advanced past the stereotypical intimidating professor and how that change in teaching benefits their students.
The section includes a discussion of the common traits of a modern law professor, as outlined in the book: personal qualities (passion, creativity, authenticity, and self-improvement), student relationships (mutual respect, accessibility, mentoring, and professionalism), student engagement (high expectations, active learning, and extended learning), and student feedback (practice exams, constructive feedback, and transparency).
The report highlights all the “Best” professors in the book and chooses three professors for more in-depth interviews.
