Academic Support Program

The Academic Support Program (ASP) complements the law school curriculum. The Program focuses on the process involved in developing skills that are necessary to succeed in law school and on the bar exam. These skills include, in part, the ability to understand (brief), organize (outline) and apply the law (exam writing) as well as time and stress management. ASP recognizes that students have different learning styles and backgrounds that affect their learning and performance in law school.

Throughout the Program, diverse teaching methods are used to assist students to reach their academic potential. To help students succeed, ASP offers the following:

Skills Workshops

The workshops address topics such as briefing, note-taking, outlining, exam writing as well as time and stress management. Teaching methods include active learning exercises and feedback.

Discussion Groups

Following up on the skills addressed in the Skills Workshops, upper division students, with proven academic success, are assigned to one or more courses in each first year section during the fall. Each Discussion Group Leader uses the substantive law taught by the particular professor as the context for addressing and reinforcing the analytical and non-analytical skills necessary to succeed. The Discussion Group Leaders work closely with the Director and Student Coordinator(s) to develop of active learning materials and exercises. These are open to all interested first year students.

Office Hours

Individual meetings enable students to gain a specific understanding of their academic strengths and weaknesses as well as explore non-analytical concerns that may interfere with learning. The Discussion Group Leaders and the Director of ASP will hold office hours as will adjunct Academic Support Program professionals.
Information about specific times and locations for activities and office hours will be on Blackboard and in the Hastings Weekly email as well as on classroom white boards.

Contact

Laurie Zimet, Director at (415) 565-4839 or zimetl@uchastings.edu