Hughes-Gerber, Laura and McGuirk, Noel (2026) Resilience by Design : Embracing a holistic blueprint for law programmes. In: Association of National Teaching Fellows Symposium 2026, 2026-05-12 - 2026-05-13, Newcastle University.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Although law is often conceived as a pathway to legal practice, modern legal education is a broad-based discipline that prepares students for a diverse range of careers. Yet the implicit promise of this degree extends beyond doctrinal mastery of the law: graduates are assumed to emerge as adaptable, resilient professionals. Despite these expansive aims, most law programmes remain firmly anchored in analytical rigour of the law, with minimal emphasis on life skills such as emotional intelligence, stress management, and resilience. If we assume students will naturally acquire these competencies, we may inadvertently be short-changing their long-term wellbeing and professional readiness. The presentation examines the concept of resilience, explores current gaps in how university programmes address vital life skill competencies, and considers pathways to enhance student wellbeing and resilience in teaching practices.