Amy Vaughan Thomas

faculty

Amy Vaughan-Thomas she/her/hers

Assistant Teaching Professor / Director of Academic Success

Law School / Student Services

508-985-1162

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UMass School of Law

Education

2016California Western School of LawJD
2011University of ConnecticutBA

Teaching

  • ADR
  • Professional Responsibility
  • Academic Success

Teaching

Courses

Students will complete weekly practice exams using Agency materials. Students will receive frequent feedback on assignments. In-class instruction will focus on writing and study skills, as well as legal analysis and reading techniques. This course will be required for students on academic probation after their first full-time semester or second part-time semester, and will be open to other first-year and second-year students up to the course limit.

This course examines the procedural, practical and theoretical aspects of settlement as an alternative to trial. The course will focus upon the following methods of alternative dispute resolution: Arbitration, Early Neutral Evaluation, Mediation, Summary Jury/Bench Trials, and briefly touch upon some other settlement mechanisms. Methods of instruction will include LEC and Socratic method. In addition, students will be required to engage in extensive role playing in order to apply acquired knowledge and concepts to realistic situations involving each of the ADR methods covered.

Professor Vaughan-Thomas values legal education pedagogy and strives to make her classroom an active, engaging, and inclusive atmosphere. Professor Vaughan-Thomas also collaborates with UMass faculty, staff, and administration to improve law school policies, and promote student success.

As a former Division 1 athlete, she values the importance of a "team first" mentality and appreciates being a member of the UMass Dartmouth community. In addition to her academic responsibilities, Professor Vaughan-Thomas serves on the board for the New England Association of Conflict Resolution.