How Online Learning Can Transform Legal Education
Publication Date
2016
Document Type
Book Chapter
Organizational Units
Sturm College of Law
Keywords
Experiential education, First year law school curriculum, Online education
Abstract
While many schools are reducing student enrollment and tightening resources, we have still seen a healthy broadening in the pedagogy of legal education, particularly in the growth of experiential learning opportunities. Despite what the media has suggested in its criticism of legal education, there is still considerable value in having a law degree. But the cost–benefit of a student investing in law school to obtain that degree is under significant pressure, and this is in part why we have seen a dramatic reduction in applications for admission to law schools over the last several years (Sloan, 2012, 2013, 2014). The best way out of this situation is likely to be found in a radical reengineering of the first year of law school, by rebuilding much of it online. This would leave law faculties to do what most of them prefer to do and what they do best: teach students in smaller classes the more complex legal doctrine placed in the context of how it is used in practice, with a focus on what it will take to be an effective lawyer in the twenty-first century.
Publication Statement
The full chapter is available for download directly from the publisher at: https://www.elgaronline.com/view/edcoll/9781784717759/9781784717759.00008.xml
Recommended Citation
David I.C. Thomson, How Online Learning Can Transform Legal Education, in RESEARCH HANDBOOK ON DIGITIAL TRANSFORMATIONS 23 (F. Xavier Olleros * Majlinda Zhegu eds.,2016).