How do you approach incorporating real-world legal issues and current events into your teaching? Can you share one example of how you've done this effectively?

I am always watching for news stories that connect with what I'm teaching. I teach the required property class in the first year and some upper level real estate courses. One example I have is a news clip of a person who broke into a home that was vacant pending foreclosure. His neighbors called the police and the police didn't remove him so they called the media. When interviewed he says so many things that are legally incorrect but reflects what laypersons think. I use this when introducing the concept of Adverse Possession and use that real world hypo throughout the class discussions to analyze the various elements they are learning. It really brings the concept to life.

I often incorporate past divorce and family law mediation cases into my teaching of community property law (while maintaining client confidentiality) to help students understand the intricacies and nuances of real-world applications. For example, I recently illustrated how legal requirements can complicate settlement negotiations by discussing a case involving former mediation clients. In this case, the husband had used premarital funds to purchase the family home but failed to maintain proper records to meet the legal standard for reimbursement. While the legal rules weren't fully satisfied, both spouses were aware of the situation and ultimately agreed to acknowledge the history in their settlement. This example highlighted how legal principles can intersect with practical realities, which was the focus of that day's class.

When I teach legal principles to young attorneys or interns, I always incorporate current events to make the material relatable and dynamic. For example, during the pandemic, I used the surge in COVID-related personal injury cases to explain how evolving circumstances can impact the duty of care in negligence law. We examined how courts responded to claims involving essential businesses and how precedent might shift based on new public health standards. One particularly effective moment was when we analyzed a high-profile Las Vegas case where an insurance company tried to deny a claim due to pandemic-related delays. This made the legal concepts tangible and showed how staying informed on current events can directly affect case outcomes. Students learn to apply theory in practical, real-time scenarios by linking real-world issues to the legal framework.