Academic Support Program
The UWLS, together with the Student Bar Association (SBA), launched a pilot program
in 2007 to help its students succeed in their pursuit of a legal education. The
Academic Support Program (ASP) offers peer mentoring and study skills workshops
designed to help students do their personal best in law school.
Mission
The study of law is unique, and so is its pedagogy. The ASP helps students craft
their own approach to studying legal issues by offering advice and peer mentoring.
The ASP does not take the place of professors, case books or study guides. Instead,
the program enables students to get the most from these resources as they adjust
to the rigors and complexities of studying the law.
Programs
The ASP helps 1L students adapt to the academic demands of law school through two
different types of activities: workshops and peer mentoring.
Prof. Sarah Kaltsounis and ASP peer mentors lead workshops throughout Autumn Quarter
that focus on the skills students need to succeed in law school. Workshops provide
advice and ideas for case-briefing and reading, class participation, and studying
for and taking exams.
Peer Mentoring
2L and 3L peer mentors are available to work with 1L students to help them develop
study habits, adapt their learning styles, and manage the academic side of law school
that is not covered in the classroom. Depending on preference, students may choose
to meet one-on-one with a peer mentor or to work with a small group of classmates
to arrange a peer mentoring session.
Peer mentor are available to meet except the first, last and exam weeks of the quarter.
Each session typically lasts a half-hour, and students can reserve a time spot by
filling out an online request form. Each student
must note a specific topic that he or she would like assistance with, and these
sessions generally are assigned on a first-come basis, although limits may apply.
Eligibility
The ASP’s workshops will be open to all students: 1Ls, 2Ls, 3Ls, and LLM students.
However, peer mentoring is reserved for 1L students only. If the peer mentors cannot
accommodate the demand for tutoring requests, the program's Student Director may
do any of the following to ensure that 1Ls students have equal access to the program:
- If possible, combine students with similar needs to the same session so the mentor
can run a small group session.
- Priority system:
- Students who have not been to a mentoring session before receive priority
- Students who have been to a mentoring session in the past two weeks receive priority
- Student may not go to more than three (3) mentoring sessions per quarter or six
(6) over the entire first year.
- In the rare case that a student becomes disqualified, the program's Student Director
can meet with the student to evaluate his or her need and to direct the student
to resources that are available on campus.
- NOTE: The Student Director will keep track of students seen during mentoring sessions
- Missed meetings: if student misses his or her scheduled time without contacting
the peer mentor in advance, the program will reserve the right to refuse further
requests.
Confidentiality
All records kept for ASP, including any student’s request for tutoring, will be kept confidential.
Access to such records will be limited to the ASP’s faculty director (Prof. Sarah Kaltsounis), and the ASP student director(s) Individual
requests for peer mentoring and any mentoring session records will also be available to the 2L/3L peer mentor responsible for that meeting.