1. TEACHING EXTERNS TO THRIVE NOW AND IN LAW PRACTICE
Amy Sankaran, U Michigan Law
Larry Krieger, FSU Law

2. WHY TEACH WELL-BEING? EVERYONE WANTS IT. MANY DON’T HAVE IT.
SCIENCE TELLS US HOW TO GET IT.
FEELS GREAT + CREATES
…PROFESSIONALISM & PERFORMANCE

3. OUR SESSION 1. The Deep Problem (3 min)
2. Core content for students (20 min)
3. Autonomy Supportive Style for Teaching/Supervising (3 min)
4. How we each approach the topics
( min)
5. Workshop: apply to your approach (30 min)

4. TRAINING TO “THINK LIKE A LAWYER” DIS-INTEGRATES PERSONALITY
1. THE CORE WB PROBLEM:
TRAINING TO “THINK LIKE A LAWYER” DIS-INTEGRATES PERSONALITY

5. EFFECTS OF CURRENT 1L TRAINING (MERTZ, AMER. BAR FOUNDATION/CARNEGIE)
Unmoors the self, changes values
Combat dialogue replaces moral reasoning
Winning argument as only goal
Sets aside morality, conscience, caring
Erases bases for ethical judgment
**Undermines integrity & ALL key WB sources

6. WB TEACHING FOCUS Integrity/Sense of Self
Conscience, Fairness, Morality
Feelings, Caring, Connection
Prioritize Internal Motivations and Values

7. Critical role of externships
Focused integrated training in externships & clinics
(Are problems addressed from orientation & first year
for prevention?)
Krieger, Human Nature….Washburn L.R. 2008

8. WHAT MAKES LAWYERS (AND STUDENTS) HAPPY?
2. CORE TEACHING CONTENT
WHAT MAKES LAWYERS (AND STUDENTS) HAPPY?

10. WHAT MAKES LAWYERS HAPPY ? (SSRN.COM)
2015 PSYCH. STUDY LAWYERS
WHAT MAKES LAWYERS HAPPY ? (SSRN.COM)
(Krieger/Sheldon, Geo. Wash. L.R. 2015)

11. THE STUDY 4 states, 6200 lawyers, 140 judges Self-Determination Theory
Subjective Well-being
Standardized correlations (“R” values)

12. SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING
24 VALIDATED MEASURES
POSITIVE EMOTIONS (8)
(enthusiastic, strong, active…)
NEGATIVE EMOTIONS (8)
(Nervous, guilty, fearful…)
LIFE SATISFACTION SCALE (6)
(I feel very satisfied with life…
A lot would have to change….)

13. Most shared article, New York Times… WHY?

14. TRADITIONAL SUCCESS DOES NOT MAKE US HAPPY.

15. DATA: TWO DISTINCT SOURCES OF SUCCESS (AND HAPPINESS)
TRADITIONAL SUCCESS: EXTERNAL
(income, status, honors, fame…)
“INTERNAL SUCCESS”
(integrity, closeness to others,
enjoyment/meaning in work…)

16. VERY DIFFERENT IMPACTS ON LAWYER WELL-BEING
External success is slightly helpful
for well-being (r = )
Internal success is critical
for well-being (r = )

18. Critical Well-Being Factors are Felt, Internal
AUTONOMY/AUTHENTICITY
RELATEDNESS TO OTHERS
WORK MOTIVATION AND COMPETENCE
AUTONOMY SUPPORT

19. FIRST NEED: AUTONOMY/AUTHENTICITY (.66)
“My behavior shows my true self.”
“My choices express my true values.”
This is integrity, core of professionalism.

20. SECOND NEED: RELATEDNESS TO OTHERS (.65)
Relating well, feeling close to others
Requires decency and respect, second pillar of professionalism.

21. SATISFACTION FROM WORK: INTERNAL MOTIVATION (.55)
Work is interesting, enjoyable.
Work expresses values, fulfills life purpose.
Generates engagement and excellence, third pillar of professionalism.

22. AUTONOMY SUPPORT (.48) Felt Respect and Understanding Non-controlling
Supervisor, Teacher, Mentor...

23. INTRINSIC VALUES (.30) (vs: Extrinsic values, money, power, fame…)
Self Understanding and Growth
Intimacy with Others
Helping Others/Community
Promote key factors but not always felt

25. EXTERNAL SUCCESS IS ATTRACTIVE, BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY HELPFUL FOR WELL-BEING (Tastes Great, Less Filling)

26. CONTRAST 1: Lawyer Groups
“SERVICE” LAWYERS (Least pay, most internal factors) ARE HAPPIER THAN… “PRESTIGE” LAWYERS (Most pay, least internal factors)

27. CONTRAST 2: MAKING PARTNER
Junior partners have the same well-being
as senior associates.
Partner status and 70% greater earnings, zero increase in well-being.

28. PROFILE OF A HAPPY LAWYER
Knows and appreciates herself
Seeks to improve more than accumulate
Often feels close to others
Seeks to help others, community
Finds meaning and enjoyment in work
Gives and receives support at work
Growth mindset

29. PROFILE OF A HAPPY LAWYER
Knows and appreciates herself
Seeks to improve more than accumulate
Often feels close to others
Seeks to help others, community
Finds meaning and enjoyment in work
Gives and receives support at work
Growth mindset

30. ONE ORGANIZING PRINCIPLE FOR WELL-BEING
FEELING CLOSE, MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS
WITH SELF (AUTHENTICITY)
WITH OTHERS (RELATEDNESS)
WITH WORK (COMPETENCE & INTERNAL MOTIVATION)
SAME SOURCES PROFESSIONALISM/ETHICS

31. STUDENTS MUST UNDERSTAND:
SUCCESS INCLUDES WELL-BEING.
FIRST SEEK INTERNAL SUCCESS, THEN EXTERNAL SUCCESS.
**DO NOT DISPLACE INTERNAL SUCCESS WITH PAY, ETC.

32. BALANCE YOUR ATTENTION (75%-25%)
INTEGRITY
House/Car
AUTHENTICITY
LEARN/IMPROVE
ENJOYMENT
MEANING
COMPETENCE
RELATING
COMMUNITY
HELPING
JUSTICE
RESPECT
Prestige
Partnership
Competition
Appearance
KINDNESS
Gpa/law review..
Outcomes
Popularity
YOUR CHOICES
Reflection,Support
Winning
High Salary

33. PROMOTES ALL POSITIVE WB OUTCOMES
3. TEACHING STYLE FOR WB:
AUTONOMY SUPPORT
PROMOTES ALL POSITIVE WB OUTCOMES

34. COMPONENTS OF AUTONOMY SUPPORT (NATURAL FOR EXTERNSHIP/CLINIC)
Authority but less controlling
Appreciates preferences, perspectives (Listens actively)
Gives meaningful choices
If controlling, explains why

35. BENEFITS OF AUTONOMY SUPPORT (WORK or FAMILY)
All 3 Needs
Internal Motivation
Well-being
Performance

36. Higher Performance/ Achievement
AUTONOMY SUPPORT SEQUENTIAL PATH:
LAW STUDENTS
Greater
Autonomy
NeedSat (Y1-Y3)
Greater Self-
Det’d Career
Motivation
.33
.39
.41
Faculty
Autonomy
Support
(end of Y1)
Social Context
(i.e. Law School 1 vs. Law School 2)
Greater
Relatedness
NeedSat (Y1-Y3)
.20
Better
SWB (Y1->Y3)
.20
.13
.40
.32
Greater
Competence NeedSat (Y1-Y3)
Higher Performance/ Achievement
.23

37. AUTONOMY SUPPORT SEQUENTIAL PATH:
LAWYERS

38. 4. HOW WE TEACH WB:
COMPONENTS OF MY TEACHING: *GIVE DIRECT UNDERSTANDING FIRST *USE NEGATIVE DATA SPARINGLY. *STUDENTSOBSERVE, EXPERIENCE, & SHARE (usually positives)

39. WB COMPONENTS, LARRY’S PROGRAMS (HANDOUTS COMING)
LOW CREDIT EXTPS: Core readings, observe, discuss – journals & postings (or class).
HIGH CREDIT EXTPS (immersion): Core readings, observe and experience, discuss - journals & postings (or class); prereq. course exposure
COURSE: readings, reflective writing, pervasive teaching/modeling; 2 wb classes (power pt.)

40. EXTERNS EXPERIENCE.. Learning naturally pervades externship.
More effective with engagement.
Student clearly get it.
Alumni: long-term positive effects

41. Resources Core content: 1. What Makes Lawyers Happy? (SSRN.com
or G.W. L. Rev, 2015)
2. Hidden Sources of Law School Stress (LK)
3. Deeper Understanding of Your Career Choices
Values Exercise: Inseparability of Professionalism and Personal Satisfaction (Clin. L. Rev., 2005)
Comprehensive:
Human Nature as a New Guiding Philosophy for Legal Education; (Washburn L. Rev., 2008)

42. THANK YOU