Abstract
As legal practitioners confront the potent impacts of society’s latest technological innovation, legal education can and should say “yes, and” to all the change and uncertainty by leaning into the teaching of human skills. That’s “yes, and,” as in the guiding principle of improvisational theater, or improv. As a form of embodied learning through play, improv exercises are a proven tool for building and refining fundamental human skills, often called the “soft” skills, within a low-stakes learning environment. They can and should be a part of any law school’s effort to graduate confident and skilled communicators who are strong team players—empathetic, creative, adaptable, and resilient.
While applied improv (the application of improv techniques and exercises outside of the theater space) has become a recognized field, and while many business schools and medical schools have embraced its use, law schools have done so to a much lesser extent. More broadly, legal education does not have a strong track record when it comes to training students in fundamental human skills.
Through the example of an applied improv course at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and detailed description of several improv exercises, the article seeks to provide a template for law schools and willing law faculty to integrate improv into their students’ learning. Improv can help law students grow the confidence and agility needed to navigate the evolving landscape of law practice and thrive as professionals.
Recommended Citation
Ben Bratman,
Saying “Yes, And” to a Changing Legal Profession Through Improv,
3 J. Law Teaching & Learning 49
(2026).
Available at: https://research.ualr.edu/lawteachingjournal/vol3/iss1/2
