Some reviews mention Mertz's findings that classroom dynamics can have different effects on students based on race and gender, with minority students often participating more in classes taught by professors of color. Criticisms and Limitations
Some reviewers argue that the claim that legal discourse is specifically damaging to women and minority students remains "unproven" or is only a "small piece in the puzzle" of differential graduation rates. Learning to “Think Like a Lawyer”
Critics discuss Mertz's concept of the "double edge" of law—while it provides a neutral-appearing language for conflict, it can simultaneously obscure social experiences that are vital for democracy and justice. While praised for its eloquence, the book's roots
While praised for its eloquence, the book's roots in linguistic anthropology make it a common text for graduate-level courses in applied linguistics, which may be dense for casual readers. While praised for its eloquence
Reviewers from American Anthropologist and Amazon highlight Mertz's analysis of how the Socratic method forces students to shift away from moral or emotional terms and toward strict frameworks of legal authority.