At High Point Law, Legal Research and Writing (LRW) is taught in small sections of approximately ten students. This setting allows the students to feel engaged in class and have more one-on-one interactions with their professors. In these small sections, the students sit around a table with their professor and talk about research and writing—rather than simply listen to a lecture. Given the atmosphere, students feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts, asking questions, and participating in the discussions.
This unique model has proven popular with students. “The small sections make it easier to build meaningful connections with your professor and peers, fostering a collaborative and supportive learning environment,” said Alan Hidalgo-Lobo, a student in High Point Law’s inaugural class. “My LRW section was a family. Regardless of the time, or how long we stayed up studying, we could count on our group of eight friends to get us through,” added Jordan McRae, another first-year student. “I like the small sections because they enable us to get more targeted feedback, foster interpersonal connections with my colleagues and professors, and make me feel more comfortable asking and answering questions.,” said Grace Lawrimore, another 1L student.
Professors also appreciate the small section size. “I’ve been teaching legal writing for fifteen years, and I’m used to standing up in front of a class of fifteen to twenty-five students,” said Pete Nemerovski, an Associate Professor and High Point Law’s Director of Advocacy. “At High Point, I sit around a table with nine or ten students. It often feels like I’m back at my law firm, working with a group of attorneys to solve a client’s legal problem.” Kip Nelson, an Associate Professor and High Point Law’s Assistant Director of Advocacy, added: “The small LRW sections allow me as a professor to get to know the students quickly and hear their individual viewpoints. Nobody can ‘hide’ in this setting, but that reality makes it easier for us to feel like a team that is working toward a common goal.”
Nemerovski noted that because each professor teaches no more than three sections, the “student load” per professor is well below the national average. “That enables our LRW professors to devote substantial time to each individual student, providing detailed written feedback on assignments and meeting with students one-on-one several times each semester,” Nemerovski said.
Former Chief Justice Mark Martin, High Point Law’s Founding Dean and Professor of Law, added:
“This year, the average number of students per section was 9.53. The law school is committed to maintaining sections of ten students or fewer, even as enrollment expands in the years to come. The student feedback with High Point Law’s innovative legal writing program has been overwhelmingly positive.”