Collegiate Service-Learning: Perspectives on Legal Liability

 In this chapter, the authors argue that liability is is a significant concern for most service-learning practitioners but is rarely addressed explicitly in the professional literature. The chapter does not provide legal advice or dictate policy, but offers insights into strategies that faculty members, students, community partners, and administrators may use to maximize the opportunities the opportunities associated with service-learning while minimizing risks and fulfilling their respective responsibilities. This chapter summarizes, from the perspective of each set of stakeholders, a series of legal cases that address issues related to liability and may apply to service-learning. It also summarizes best practices from campuses around the U.S. and offers a conversation-starting heuristic that can help campuses to develop policies and procedures to fit their own needs.