Schools and the Socratic Method Forum

[Incubateus]

Does anyone know if there are any schools that stand out as purely socratic. I know most law schools have at least a some what socratic method, and I know that it usually changes from professor to professor. Beyond the obvious difficulties in answering this question, are there any schools that are notorious for using the socratic method to an annoying extent?

For example, I spoke with a Cooley grad (save the Cooley jokes) about his one class and he said that even when they asked the professor real, need-to-know questions, the professor would respond with a question. That is the type of teaching I hope to avoid in picking a law school.

So any thoughts? stories?

[Incubateus]

bump

[tarp]

I doubt this is going to be easy to delineate based on school. Each professor has his own style. Of course, the Cooley example you gave is ridiculous. That professor needed to be smacked down by administration.

[WSJ_Law]

don't go to law school. hth

[kalvano]

Baylor.


But I never had even one professor here at SMU during my first year do a real, traditional Socratic-style questioning.

[msblaw89]

Chicago

[Incubateus]

I can imagine Baylor for sure, but Chicago? To an annoying extent?

[IAFG]

I can imagine Baylor for sure, but Chicago? To an annoying extent?

lolwhat. UChi should not surprise you at all. They do a lot of things "to an annoying extent."

[msblaw89]

On their website and in the vbook .. all they do is talk about how they emphasize the socratic method. But I do have a friend who is a 1L, and she says that the professors don't try to embarrass you.

[89vision]

According to the pre law Prof at my school, almost all law schools use the Socratic method.

[johansantana21]

Doesn't matter, it depends on professor, not school.

[071816]

Why do you care about the socratic method so much? U scared?

[AlexanderSupertramp]

Doesn't matter, it depends on professor, not school.

Yeah, my Contracts professor is extrememly Socratic. Torts is pretty socratic. Property and Civ Pro not at all. I feel like I get what I need out of each one after I leave class but I am definitely put more work into preparing for Contracts and Torts.

[IAFG]

Why do you care about the socratic method so much? U scared?

Sounds like OP is sorta being a little bitch about socratic method. I'm just concerned for him.