Abstract:
This presentation will explore the ways that Therapeutic Jurisprudence (‘TJ’) can underpin legal writing education. By understanding the anti-therapeutic impact of legal writing, we can begin to explore the ways that clear legal writing education can meet the needs of the community. We must enable future lawyers to construct a deep, authentic understanding of how to adapt their legal writing to meet the needs of their client and the community.
An informed teaching approach to legal writing can use a TJ framework to create socially responsive teaching methods. This is because the anti-therapeutic impact of legal writing can be minimised by adopting TJ techniques and principles in this fundamental area of learning. This can ensure that future lawyers are aware of what impact their writing can have on their clients and the broader community. Clear, humanised, non-adversarial styles of legal writing are effective, persuasive and appropriate for legal practice today.
A TJ framework in legal education can also enable law academics to ground their content and approach amidst change by ensuring that a chosen pedagogical approach considers both the design and the application of laws.
Speaker:
Bree Williams, Teaching Associate and Doctor Juridical Science Candidate, Monash University, Australia
Bree Williams is a Monash University doctoral candidate, researching legal writing education using Therapeutic Jurisprudence. Her research is about connecting the design and application of teaching legal writing with concepts of voice, validation and voluntary participation. Her teaching experience areas range from litigation, dispute resolution and foundational legal skills, to Indigenous student success.
Bree’s professional experience began with private legal practice in Australia and included innovative legal practice roles like Professional Support Lawyer in two social justice and litigation practices and Senior Editor/ Developer of the Australian Encyclopedia of Forms and Precedents, along with other online legal products. She holds Bachelor of Laws, Masters of Global Communication, Grad Dip Legal Practice and training qualifications.