4: Class Policies and Structure
- Page ID
- 227361
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Preparation and Engagement with Course Content
Every class session will begin with a 20-30 minute mindfulness practice and reflective discussion before moving to the topic(s) for the day. Many class sessions will have relevant readings or video content to watch beforehand, often with a requirement of reflective writing about the material. These materials are available via a link on the syllabus. Please make every effort to access class materials sooner than right before class, in the event of technical difficulties.
As a small, experiential seminar course, its success depends on students arriving prepared to participate fully in class, through engagement in the mindfulness techniques that will be practiced during class, the brief discussions that will flow from those practices, and the class content for that day.
Daily Practice and Journal
You are required to have a mindfulness practice six days a week while in this class. For the two class days per week, the in-class mindfulness practice satisfies this requirement. On four other days during the week, you must commit to a mindfulness practice - starting with 10 minutes a day and advancing to 20 over the course of the semester. This practice will be followed by a short period of journaling. Please keep a log of your out-of-class mindfulness practice in order to have a record for yourself as well as being accountable to course requirements. (see p 5 for a sample) You are welcome to use an app or any of the external resources provided below or listed within the syllabus class assignments as a source for your daily practice.
External Resource Exploration
As set forth in Course Objective Four (p.2), an important component of this course is exploring other resources for mindfulness in the legal and non-legal community. Components of that exploration are embedded in places in the syllabus where, for instance, you are instructed to go to a website and participate in a mindfulness practice video available on that website. The online world is replete with mindfulness resources. This course prioritizes directing you to reliable, trustworthy, and free (or low cost) spots for mindfulness practices.
To achieve this objective, throughout the course you will be using external resources. Some will be introduced via class assignments (e.g., see April 3rd), others are listed below. For the latter, you must use the external resources at some point during the semester for the number of times specified. The when is up to you. Each use of the external resources can be counted as one of your daily practices.
· Mindfulness in Law Society (MILS) weekly mindfulness practice
https://www.mindfulnessinlawsociety.org/virtual-sits. (3xs)
· Massachusetts Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers
https://www.lclma.org/weekly-mindfulness/ (2Xs)
· UCLA Mindfulness Awareness Research Center (1X)
· University of Miami Law School (2Xs)
https://www.miamimindfulness.org/practices/practices/sobemindful_app.html.
Professionalism and Professional Identity
At the end of law school, students do not suddenly emerge fully formed with a professional identity and the skills of behaving professionally. These are developed throughout law school. This course will explore how mindfulness can help shape your professional identity development. Please take professionalism to heart and behave accordingly. That means that, in addition to the requirements, rules, and expectations listed above, during class time you will:
· arrive on time or, when possible, a few minutes early.
· demonstrate respect and courtesy for other class participants, including being attentive while others are speaking.
· use computers during class time only if necessary for this class.
· keep cellphone put away unless that device is being used for class material that particular day.
We will create a community agreement for class during the first week.
CLASS GUIDELINES/PROCEDURES
Attendance
The American Bar Association and this law school both have stringent attendance policies that mandate regular attendance. Law school policy provides that missing more than four classes in this course may result in involuntary withdrawal from the course.
Moreover, this seminar class is highly participatory and experiential. Much of the learning happens during the mindfulness practices that we will occur do during class, as well as during the brief discussions about the practice that will occur afterward. There is no way to make up this portion of a missed class. Therefore, attendance is particularly critical in this course. Accordingly, if a student misses three classes, they must meet with me. The student must initiate a meeting request so that the meeting occurs within a week of the third missed class.
Confidentiality
The nature of this course dictates that we will be dealing with topics and practices that intersect with your professional and personal development. Accordingly, please expect and respect that there will at times be conversations by you or your classmates that deserve and demand confidentiality. Think of this not only as being respectful to and supportive of your colleagues but also as beginning the practice of confidentiality that is central to the ethical practice of law.
Grading
The grading in this class will be based on the following:
- Class participation in mindfulness practices and class discussion/projects--30%
- Outside-of-class meditation practice with concomitant journal/practice log--30%
o Use the worksheet here or create (and share with classmates?) your own.
https://morethanmindful.com/wp-content/uploads/Formal-Practice-Worksheet.pdf
- Completion of external mindfulness resource exploration--10%
- Reflection papers 30%. Wherever the syllabus assigns a reflection paper, please bring a printed copy to class to turn in.
Important Law School and University Policies
Please review the information contained herein:
https://www.umassd.edu/law/academics/omnibus-syllabus-language/