Patrick N. Chapin

What’s the most important thing you are working on right now?

I am in the process of doing research for my first scholarly article. My area of discipline is Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Employment Law. As a long time practitioner, I am interested in when, why, and how mediators decide whether joint or private session is preferred in employment related conflicts. There is more than legal reasoning involved in this decision and the psychological/emotional factors are significant.

How do you approach teaching your favorite topics? Your least favorite?

I initially ask myself what pedagogy to adopt for teaching a subject dear to me, ADR. If I have authentic passion for the subject my approach comes from a place of sincerity. Students at the professional education level have a keen barometer to detect if their professor enjoys what is being taught. From there, I develop a working syllabus that combines necessary foundational textbook learning with well thought out simulation exercises requiring student involvement. I find the learning process is enriched with well informed student interaction. It is my job to prepare the students with relevant and substantive material. Thereafter, the student’s learning experience will be enhanced by sharing their ideas and critical thoughts amongst their peers. In the end, they will depart having learned something with practical application and hopefully a positive classroom experience. As an Adjunct, I have the privilege to only teach my favorite subjects!

What is it about being a law school professor that inspires or motivates you?

The students, the students, the students!! At an innate level, any professor, whether adjunct or tenured member of the academy, has the curiosity and desire to go deep into learning a subject. I am intellectually motivated when my environment includes respected scholars. I am inspired from the hunger to learn reflected in the diverse eyes of the impressive students at Boyd.