Value Added: Why Law Students Should Care About Psychology and APLS

By Sarah Fishel (2020-2022 Law Liaison) 

​Most of the student members of APLS are grounded in the field of psychology with interests, experience, or formal training in the field of law. However, there are relatively few members who are grounded in the field of law and have the same interest in gaining more knowledge about the field of psychology. Being a law student can be an overwhelming and time consuming endeavor, and the thought of adding one more reading or putting one more piece of information into your brain can feel daunting. That said, there are many reasons why law students (and legal professionals) could benefit from the field of psychology - here are just a few: 

1. Psychology is cited in cases. More and more cases are bringing in psychological information, testimony, and briefs to help judges inform their decisions. This is seen most plainly in the Miller/Montgomery line of cases. Having a basic knowledge of psychological principles can help you to understand your cases, judicial decision-making, and where the field of law may be headed in the future.
   
   
2. You can gain an upper hand in evidentiary knowledge. Often, the fields of law and psychology intersect where psychologists are called in as experts to evaluate or consult on a case. Knowing these processes better, what makes a good or bad report, and why psychologists may make certain recommendations based on the clients mental state, background, testing, etc. can help you effectively argue on behalf of whoever you represent. 
   
   
3. When you get it wrong, there are big consequences. A lack of knowledge about psychology or its practices can have large consequences for your clients and the field of law in general. Anything from ineffectively assisting your client to establishing bad case law can come from having these blind spots. One of the most famous examples of this is in the area of Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) laws, where an inaccurate statistic regarding recidivism rates was cited to a judge, who then used that statistic in their decision. The clinicians providing the statistic later recanted the data, but the damage was already done. 
   
   
4. It can help you better interact with clients. Psychology, at its heart, is about people. Even psychologists who are engaged primarily in research or assessments have some background with clinical work and effectively building rapport. Understanding even just a little about how to better your rapport with your clients, build motivation to work with you, or comfort them through the legal process, can help you in your work too. 
   
   

Psychology is not a monolith and can help you in ways you don’t even realize. Forensic psychology may be a relatively small field, but the researchers, clinicians, and academics involved do so much in so many areas. Whether you are looking for more information about empaneling a jury, eyewitness testimony, the mental state of your client, recidivism, the impact of policies, or some other area of interest to you - I can almost guarantee that someone is looking into that from a psychological perspective. Adding this knowledge to your own can strengthen your effectiveness in any of these areas.

Throughout my own training, I’ve met many law students and legal professionals who do recognize the benefit of psychological know-how and what it can add to their own practice and research. So the next question becomes - why join APLS? 

1. Updated information. APLS is a great source of updated information on psychological research and practice. The newsletters, journal, and media posts are a great source of consolidated, evidence-based information about all areas of forensic psychology.
   
   
2. Networking. Law students are well aware of the power of networking. Adding psychologists to your list of professional contacts can help you in the future! Whether it’s asking a peer for an informal consultation on a case, or needing more formal assistance, starting early and building your networks across many fields can help set the stage for success in the future. 
   
   
3. Our Conference. We have a conference every year that is absolutely fantastic. It’s a great way to get a lot of information and networking done in a beautiful city somewhere in the United States! We’ve had psychologists, lawyers, judges, and many others talk at the conference! Law students can even submit proposals and present! For more information on our conferences - see here: https://www.apls-students.org/conferences.html 
   
   
4. Reasonable fees. Officially joining APLS as a student comes with an incredibly reasonable $15 fee. Law students are often used to the fees associated with their textbooks (astronomical) or applying for the bar exam (that one hurt) - in comparison, the fee for joining APLS and accessing all of these benefits, especially as a student - is incredibly do-able! For more information on joining APLS - see here: https://www.apls-students.org/membership.html 
   ​
5. CV building. And finally, we all know that a lot has to get done in a very short time in order to graduate from law school. While psychology students can spend anywhere from 2-7 years in school, law students are in and out in 2-3! Getting involved with APLS can mean a lot for your CV, and can include attending or presenting at a conference, involvement with the Student Committee, or becoming a Campus Representative. Especially for those interested in mental health law, it’s a great way to indicate to employers and others how serious you are about your field! For more information on involvement with the APLS Student Committee - see here:  https://www.apls-students.org/get-involved.html 
   
   

I hope to see APLS continue to grow and welcome more and more law students into our ranks. As a recent graduate myself, I can absolutely say that my experiences with both law and psychology have been integral to my professional development.