Legacy of Lockdown: Exploring the Opportunities for Development in Legal Education as a Consequence of the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Main Authors: Rebecca Gladwin-Geoghegan, Christina Thompson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Padova University Press 2021-04-01
• Series: Journal of Ethics and Legal Technologies
• Subjects: covid-19; legal education; professional capabilities; social interaction; technology enhanced learning
• Online Access: https://jelt.padovauniversitypress.it/system/files/papers/JELT-2021-1-2.pdf

The aim of this paper, is to highlight the impact of the novel coronavirus on those entering and undertaking legal education. It seeks to explore the opportunities that mass-disruption to the status quo presents both within the classroom and the wider extra-curricular experiences of law students at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. Additionally the authors seek to examine the key challenges faced by technology enabled, socially distanced legal education and considers whether these challenges will remain should a more technologically enabled, flexible approach to legal education provision survive pandemic conditions. The paper draws upon some of the key themes raised in other papers in this edition of the Journal of Ethics and Legal Technologies. This paper will also offer some reflections on the impact that the pandemic has had on Coventry Law School, and seeks to identify specific areas for development/ consideration by legal education providers in the post-Covid era.