Janet Weinstein et al, “Teaching Teamwork to Law Students”

This article sets out the rationale for teaching teamwork. The authors analyzed survey results they collected from their interdisciplinary classes (law and another discipline) that required teamwork in medicine and social work. This paper is helpful for clinicians in inter- or multi-disiplinary settings. It includes suggestions for how to improve teamwork, some teamwork theory, and description of survey results.

The authors break down a set of suggested skills for effective teamwork including: critical life skills (communication, planning and coordination, leadership and cooperation, conflict resolution, problem-solving, and creative thinking). To be successful, teamwork teaching must be explicit. Effective teamwork requires team members to share particular knowledge, skills and attitudes. Teamwork requires clear goals, leadership, shared commitment and participation, mutual respect, open communication, a collaborative environment, ongoing team evaluation, member competence, and external support and recognition.

The authors draw on several theories regarding teamwork including “forming, norming, storming, re-forming and performing”. This model is helpful in explicitly guiding students through typical stages of teamwork.

Student surveys indicated that teamwork training is beneficial for their own collaborative relationships. Students entered the courses with more teamwork skill than the instructors anticipated. Students appreciated the authors explicitly teaching teamwork, and discussing the qualities required for effective teamwork. Offering students time for team meetings, providing opportunities for self-reflection, teacher modelling of teamwork by way of sharing information, planning work, assigning responsibility and communicating openly about concerns, and focusing on intrinsic values that motivate work are all valuable means clinicians can enhance student collaboration in the law school setting. The authors note that this approach takes significant time and effort, but is also beneficial and rewarding, particularly at a time when workplaces rely on teamwork (including teamwork between disciplines).

Janet Weinstein et al, “Teaching Teamwork to Law Students” (2013) 63:1 J Legal Educ 36.