In the Academic Support Spotlight

Laurie Zimet
Director, Academic Support Program
University of California
Hastings College of the Law
California's First Law School

Laurie Zimet is a recognized expert in academic support and diverse teaching methods. She has planned and presented workshops at national conferences sponsored by the AALS, LSAC, Institute for Law School Teaching, SALT, and numerous law schools. One of these presentations inspired the collaboratively written article, "Inclusive Teaching Methods Across the Curriculum: Academic Resource and Law Teachers Tie a Knot at the AALS," 31 U.S.F.L.R. 875 (1997). Since 1999, she has made annual plenary presentations on learning theory at the AALS New Law Teachers Conference. She sits on the Advisory Committee for the Institute for Law School Teaching and is a founding member of the Academic Support sections of the AALS and SALT.

With two colleagues and grants from the Institute for Law School Teaching, Laurie created videotapes on teaching and learning. The videotapes are part of two faculty-training kits that have been purchased by over 170 law schools and individuals.  In "Teach to the Whole Class: Barriers and Pathways to Learning,” students discuss factors that enhance and impede their learning.  The second video, "Principles for Enhancing Legal Education," addresses essential principles involved in good teaching.  The videos have been showcased at conferences and faculty colloquia across the country.

At Hastings, Laurie Zimet runs one of the largest academic support programs in the country.  Prior to Hastings, she directed the Academic Success Program at Santa Clara University School of Law for eight years.  Prior to Santa Clara, she taught Legal Writing and Research at Hastings.  In addition, she has taught law courses at Mills College and served as an advisor for the school’s interdisciplinary law major.

Laurie has lectured on legal writing and litigation related topics for the Practising Law Institute, Chevron, and the Federal Deposit Corporation.  Subjects of her articles range from using paralegals in pre-trial litigation to the constitutional right of privacy in discovery.  Her co-authored chapter on civil liability for rape appeared in Women and the Law, which was selected Best Law Book by the Association of American Publishers.

She received her B.S., summa cum laude, from State University College at Buffalo with a double major in social work and criminal justice. She graduated from Hastings and practiced in the area of civil litigation, emphasizing third party liability.  (djt)