Teaching Lawyering With Heart in the George Washington University Law School Domestic Violence Project. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meier, Joan
• Other Names: Adelman Madelaine guest-editor.; Coker Donna guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 22:Number 12(2016)
• Page Start: 1484
• Page End: 1495
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: domestic violence -- trauma -- clinical teaching -- holistic teaching -- hybrid clinic; Abused women -- Periodicals; Women -- Crimes against -- Periodicals; Violent crimes -- Periodicals; Femmes victimes de violence -- Périodiques; Femmes, Crimes contre les -- Périodiques; Crimes violents -- Périodiques; 362.8292
• DOI: 10.1177/1077801215626809
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

The Domestic Violence Project (DVP) began as an experiment but has become my favorite model for teaching law students about domestic violence work. The heart of the course is its emphasis on developing awareness of and compassion for the personally and emotionally challenging dimensions of domestic violence work. I achieve this (i) through an intensive and personal dialogue with students through written journals and responses; (ii) by inviting students to consider creative expression for their final project, and (iii) by teaching students about vicarious trauma and encouraging their understanding of it in themselves and other system players. Students seem to experience this course as an oasis of holistic professional and personal growth within the often dispiriting experience of law school.