Integrating the Financial Crisis in the Business Associations Course : Benefits and Pitfalls

In a time of economic turmoil, teaching business law classes can be both inspiring and precarious. The inspiration is easy to come by; in a class that students once took somewhat begrudgingly, they are now participating in impassioned discussions. At the same time, one cannot ignore the difficulties that can arise when discussing such tumultuous activity. The challenges of teaching about economic turmoil are magnified when teaching about a global financial crisis, the likes of which the world has not seen in many decades. It is often difficult to balance conveying the essential substantive material that should be covered in a class with the undertaking to help students comprehend the crisis, especially at a time when its causes and full effects are not yet fully understood. This essay provides a first-hand account of integrating the financial crisis in the Business Associations course and discusses the benefits and pitfalls in doing so