Teaching law students about the process and intricacies of legal systems can often be a challenging undertaking. One unconventional method that has gained popularity is using the character Saul Goodman from television series Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul as a teaching tool. This article will take you through the rationale behind this approach, its potential benefits, and how to effectively implement it in legal education.

Why Saul Goodman?

Saul Goodman, played by actor Bob Odenkirk, is a clever, morally ambiguous criminal lawyer who will bend or even break the rules to serve his clients. His character provides an opportunity to explore various aspects of the legal profession while engaging students in a different way compared to a traditional law school curriculum. Analyzing Saul’s actions offers valuable insights into questionable legal practices, ethical dilemmas, and the consequences of such choices.

Potential Benefits

1. Added Interest: Utilizing a character like Saul Goodman in teaching can make otherwise dry subject matter more engaging and appealing for students.

2. Encouraging Debate: Examining the morally gray areas that Saul operates in prompts students to question the ethics of certain legal practices and initiate meaningful discussions.

3. Real-World Lessons: By analyzing on-screen situations where laws and principles are being manipulated or violated, students are exposed to practical applications of law that they may encounter in their professional lives.

4. Nuanced Understanding: Taking scenarios from popular media allows educators to showcase complexity in decision-making processes; exposing students to unconventional tactics highlights the importance of understanding multiple perspectives within the law profession.

How to Implement Saul Goodman into Legal Education

1. Select Relevant Scenes: Choose scenes or episodes from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul that showcase key aspects of legal practice you’d like your students to examine (e.g., client relationships, courtroom strategies, professional ethics).

2. Provide Context: Ensure students have a basic understanding of Saul Goodman’s character and motivations, as well as any relevant legal concepts or terminology. If necessary, you can provide briefings or supplementary materials for context.

3. Analyze and Discuss: Encourage students to examine the scenes critically and identify the questionable practices employed by Saul. Initiate group discussions or assign written assignments to encourage reflection on these practices and their potential consequences. Consider using Socratic questioning techniques to facilitate critical thinking.

4. Draw Connections: Highlight the lessons that can be gleaned from Saul’s actions, including the importance of adhering to professional ethical guidelines and understanding the potential pitfalls of underhanded tactics.

5. Compare and Contrast: Use examples of real-life cases to draw parallels with the situations depicted in the TV series, emphasizing how fictional representations can help students better understand real-world legal dilemmas.