Developing the Whole Law Student

During the pre-orientation and orientation period, we help students to build relationships, explore their personal and professional identities, and learn stress management and resilience tools that support them during a vital transition period. We run a 0L Peer Mentor Program and a JD Immersion pre-orientation bootcamp, and dedicated well-being programming during orientation. Instruction covers identity exploration, psychological factors that contribute to subjective well-being, and an emphasis on their intrinsic values and motivations that lead to long-term career resilience.

The School of Law runs two formal mentorship initiatives: the Peer Mentor Program and Alumni Mentor Program. These mentorship initiatives are delivered through partnership with the best in class higher education mentorship platform, Mentor Collective. We are the first law school to work with Mentor Collective, which tailored its in-depth surveys and matching algorithm to meet our specific law student population, and prioritizes characteristics most important to our students. Participants complete training on best practices in mentor relationships and diversity and inclusion in the workplace. 1Ls are matched with upper division mentors before they set foot on campus. In the alumni program, 2Ls most in need of career support are prioritize and matched based on career interest. Assessments are run throughout the program, measuring participants' sense of belonging, academic and career self-efficacy and help-seeking. Mentors can flag students for follow up by school of law administrators, who can then connect students with wellness, and personal and academic support services.

Student advising offices focus on caring and individualized guidance that is delivered in ways that enhance autonomy support for the student. For example, career advisors coach students to proactively explore their career interests, learn from experiences that misalign with their values and goals, and identify new opportunities to try. Academic Success and Bar counselors focus on psychological and emotional encouragement, in addition to study skills, coaching students to build on their strengths and reframe setbacks into learning opportunities.

Throughout the JD experience, co-curricular wellness programming provides opportunities for law students to integrate well-being skills into their education, with workshops focused on career sustaining habits. Enhanced learning is offered through integrated instruction within the externship and clinical education programs. For example, integrated instruction can occur with external partners such as area bar associations, judges associations, and nonprofits to deliver workshops on well-being, ethics, and professional identity formation.

In the 1-credit upper division elective, "Contemplative Practice of Law", teaches students a variety of mindfulness and contemplative theories and practices with the objective of cultivating their long-term resiliency as professionals. Readings will examine issues through the lens of professional identity formation at the personal and interpersonal levels, including students' relationships with themselves, their clients, and their colleagues. This course will help students to grow in their self-knowledge, learn how to navigate psychologically difficult situations, and have greater care for themselves while striving to work more thoughtfully and effectively in the service of others.

The School of Law partnered with Canine Companions, the national nonprofit organization leading the service dog industry so that their clients and their dogs can live with greater independence. Canine Companions provides service dogs to adults, children and veterans with disabilities and facility dogs to professionals working in healthcare, criminal justice and educational settings. The School of Law sponsored a service dog-in-training, "Amicus" (named by our students), and interacted with him throughout his puppy-hood. Canine Companions also brings therapy dogs to campus throughout the year to help students de-stress and provide encouragement to students.

The law school strives to walk alongside students as they develop their resilience skills. For example, faculty and leadership go on group runs with students through the student-staff-founded USD Law Running Club. This year, a school-wide “5-day meditation challenge” during wellness week is open to students, staff, and faculty to help people establish their practices. At orientation, all students are taught the physiology of stress, controlled breathing techniques, and do a 5-minute meditation in their sections with Law Student Affairs. The School of Law is a signatory to the ABA Well-being Pledge and de-emphasizes alcohol in its programming and instead brings non-alcoholic alternatives to campus, such as smoothie trucks.