by Brian Herbert Wilson Jr., Esq.

Over the decade, NILAS has learned that the study of law is a lot like Math.  Sorry to break the news to all of you who either are going to law school or want to go to law school because you are not really great at Math. 

Law school professors on the whole, use a specific kind of approach to teaching law, known as the Socratic Method^[1].  Derived from the ancient world, this method uses a simple question and answer type pedagogy to illicit certain responses from the student, expand their thought process and “actively” engage the mind.  The ancient setting, “sought to increase understanding through inquiry” where a student of philosophy may be asked a series of questions that would lead the student down a path of inductive reasoning. 

In the modern law school professors apply the Socratic Method much like it was in the ancient world, however in all fairness; the professor has a great deal of latitude in the teaching in his or her classroom.  Often, the true Socratic Method will be blended with other methods based on that professor’s teaching style that may include; straight lecture, group discussions and other assignments.  Still, the number of core classes that employ the Socratic Style leads this writer to examine the effect on students and learning. 

Every student of the law must be able to analyze legal problems from a critical thinking point of view^[2].  The student must be able to take abstract concepts and put them into a cognitive order that makes sense to them.  This ability is the same thing we do in solving math problems, whether inductive, deductive, analytical or analogical the Law Student must solve what amounts to word based “equations”.  

What does this mean for Law Student or Bar Applicant?  Simple, because a lot of legal education revolves around critical thinking skills, one must to be trained in critical thinking; NILAS has learned that math ability tends to be a great indicator of cognitive skills needed to excel at law.  Based on this inquiry, NILAS offers the following observations:

1.       If you had trouble with Math in high school or undergraduate college, consider taking a critical thinking skills test to determine if you may need some help in this area.  Contact the Staff at NILAS to take this sort of test.

2.       Learn to work lateral thinking puzzles and problems.  Often, the mind can learn critical thinking skills or revive older skills by exercising them. 

3.       Contact the Staff at NILAS to discuss your learning history and see if you may have areas you can improve.

In closing, we offer this anecdotal look at Math…..

Used as a teaching aid under 17 U.S.C. § 107