Multilingual Legal Education: Theory and Pedagogy
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
American University Washington College of Law
4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
This conference will bring together law school faculty, staff, and language specialists to discuss how best to prepare U.S. law students for the multilingual practice of law. The one-day gathering will involve panel discussions and working groups focused on different modes of instruction, including doctrinal courses, language-for-lawyers courses, clinical courses, experiential learning opportunities, hybrid courses, intensive courses, summer programs, externships, and more.
AGENDA
9:00-9:30AM Introductions & Welcome
Speakers: Dean Claudio Grossman, American University WCL
Conference Planning Committee Members
9:30-11:00AM Multilingual Legal Education: Driving Forces and Instructional Objectives
This panel will explore the forces – both within and outside of the academy – that are driving efforts to integrate more non-English-language instruction. Additionally, the speakers will reflect on the broad range of pedagogical objectives that underlie this type of instruction.
Speakers: Theresa Kaiser, Director of Global Opportunities, American University Washington College of Law (moderator)
Raquel Aldana, Professor of Law & Director of the Inter-American Program, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
Werner Hein, Senior Counsel, Mayer Brown LLP
Carole Silver, Professor of Law, Maurer School of Law, Indiana University
Madeline Taylor, Catholic University Law Student & 2013 Equal Justice Works Fellow
11:00-11:15AM Break
11:15AM-12:45PM Course Design and Teaching Methods
This panel will examine different models for non-English-language instruction, including Language-for-lawyers courses, hybrid courses, and doctrinal courses taught in non-English languages.
Speakers: Lisa Martin, Clinical Associate, Columbus School of Law, Catholic University (moderator)
Donna Bain-Butler, Fulbright Specialist in Applied Linguistics & Adjunct Professor, American University Washington College of Law
Vivian Curran, Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh School of Law
José Gabilondo, Associate Professor of Law, Florida International University College of Law
Jayesh Rathod, Associate Professor of Law & Director, Immigrant Justice Clinic, American University Washington College of Law
Catherine Schenker, Associate Director, International Legal Studies Program, American University Washington College of Law
12:45-2:00PM Lunch & Working Group Discussion
2:00-3:30PM Toward the Future of Multilingual Instruction: Institutional & Systemic Change
This panel will offer a vision for how we can promote non-English-language instruction more systemically within the legal academy, and also begin to transform legal institutions to accommodate multiple languages.
Speakers: Jasmine Harris, Practitioner-in-Residence, American University Washington College of Law (moderator)
Hon. Veronica Alicea-Galvan, Des Moines, Washington Municipal Court Judge
José R. (“Beto”) Juárez, Jr., Professor of Law and Director of Lawyering in Spanish Program, Sturm College of Law, Denver University
Victoria Ortiz, former Dean of Students, University of California, Berkeley School of Law
Macarena Saez, Fellow, International Legal Studies Program, American University Washington College of Law
3:30-4:00PM Informal Discussion About Next Steps
