Professor Susan L. Brooks' Book Explores Innovative Approach to Legal Practice January 20, 2010 The Carolina Academic Press has published “Relationship-Centered Lawyering: Social Science Theory for Transforming Legal Practice,” co-edited by Associate Dean for Experiential Learning and Professor Susan L. Brooks.The book presents an approach to legal practice grounded in human development and social interaction theories, reflecting widespread calls for reform and renewed interest in revitalizing the profession. Co-edited with Robert G. Madden, a professor of social work at Saint Joseph College, the book explores empirically tested principles from the mental health fields and calls upon lawyers to gain competency in contextualized understanding of human development, just and effective legal process, and affective and interpersonal aptitude. Dean Brooks received a BA and MA in social work from the University of Chicago and a JD from New York University School of Law. Before coming to the Earle Mack School of Law, she was a clinical professor and clinic director at Vanderbilt Law School.