Biglaw

From Biglaw To The Classroom: This Former Magic Circle Attorney Just Won Teacher Of The Year

Knowing that your professor was a part of million dollar civil cases really motivates you to pay attention.

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Professor and students in the classroom

(Image via Getty)

There is no question that Biglaw can set you up with a lot of money. But that’s not all — somewhere in between meeting client demands and hitting billable hours, the process can create some very capable lawyers. Take Clifford Chance, the Magic Circle firm that grossed $2,711,508,000 in 2021 and placed 9th on the 2022 Global 200 ranking. Turns out the firm produces more than just earnings for its clients. It also trained one hell of a teacher. From Legal Cheek:

Sadie Whittam, a practicing solicitor and director of clinical legal education at Lancaster University Law School, received the coveted award last week at the Celebrating Excellence in Law Teaching conference in London.
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She was nominated by two colleagues who described her as an “exceptional, talented and gifted educator”. Their nominations were largely based on student feedback, with one student saying: “She is the best teacher I have ever had, and she has forever become my mentor. Her involvement and ideas for […] workshops and assessments are out of this planet.”

The award, offered by Oxford University Press, is far from a participation trophy. She was one of five finalists and, while I am sure that they too were amazing, it is hard to beat a professor that boasted a 100% satisfaction rate for her 2021-2022 clinical law program. You know how hard it is to please everybody — especially when the group in agreeance is a bunch of would-be lawyers?  And to do so on your 5th year of teaching? That’s an achievement any law professor should be able to take notes from. Thankfully, she’s done everyone the kindness of sharing a bit of how she approaches her lessons in the school’s press release.

“I use various techniques to help students understand difficult material,” she adds, “from student participation in a simulated mediation and advocacy in our mock courtroom, to running class quizzes and inviting guest speakers, to developing a partnership with a local newspaper so that students can have their work published in a legal column. I care very much about my students’ whole lives and careers – not just their law school education.”

If you thought being cold called was pressure, imagine your mom seeing your ramblings on common law posted in the paper. Maybe that would have gotten me to pay a little more attention in torts. Hopefully this study technique doesn’t cross the pond — journal is stressful enough.

Whether it is TikTok stardom, teaching, or traffic court, it is always a nice chance of pace to read about the folks that find the courage to try their hands at public service or a passion. Know anyone who broke the golden handcuffs? Let us know about them at tips@abovethelaw.com.

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Former Magic Circle lawyer crowned ‘Law Teacher of the Year’ [Legal Cheek]

Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s.  He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.

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