Teaching & Learning
Mai Linh Spencer
Associate Clinical Professor; Academic Director, Lawyers for America
Loves working with first-gen students and trying to make the classroom more equitable.
Courses you teach
Individual Representation Clinic; Evidence; Lawyers for America Fieldwork; Essential Lawyering Skills.
Classroom tactics for engaging students
Interactive exercises; live polling; humor; giving unconventional advice (“don’t think like a lawyer”); recounting war stories where I made a mistake in practice—all of which creates closeness through “immediacy.”
Best advice to students coping with the stresses of law school
Stay connected, both to your roots and to UC Hastings people who support you and your goals.
Greatest source of satisfaction as a teacher
Working with first-gen students and trying to make the classroom more equitable. I’ve had 3Ls mention in their evaluation that they had never volunteered to speak in class before taking my class. I find that both tragic and gratifying.
Favorite project you’ve spearheaded
Workers Rights Clinic—COVID-19 Response.
Particularly meaningful honor
Rutter Award for Teaching Excellence 2018.