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Tara WillkeTechnology and the Teaching of LRWDuquesne University School of LawMarch 16, 2013
What is “Distance Education” How are law schools responding to distanceeducation in general? What impact, if any, does distance educationhave on LRW?
“[A]n educational process characterized bythe separation, in time or place, betweeninstructor and student.” ABA Standard 306(b) More than 1/3 of the course must be throughdistance education technology for the courseto be considered a “distance education”course ABA Standard 306, Interpretation 306-3
Synchronous Distance Learning: Where teaching and viewing occur simultaneously Asynchronous Distance Learning: The opposite: lectures are available to view afterthey are given
200920022014
“A law school shall not grant a student morethan four credit hours in any term, nor morethan a total of 12 credit hours, toward the J.D.degree for courses qualifying under thisStandard.” ABA Standard 306(d).
There must be “ample”: “interaction with the instructor and otherstudents both inside and outside the formalstructure of the course throughout its duration;and monitoring of student effort and accomplishmentas the course progresses.” ABA Standard 306(c) (1, 2).
“No student shall enroll in courses qualifyingfor credit under this Standard until that studenthas completed instruction equivalent to 28credit hours toward the J.D. degree.” ABA Standard 306(e).
Rule 306 is in the process of being reviewed May be amended (new rule 311) Increase total credit amount from 12 to 15 No cap on the number of distance learning credits persemester
Different categories Brick and mortar law schools offering somedistance education classes (but not onlinedegrees) Brick and mortar law schools offering degreescompletely online (like LL.M. degrees) Online law schools offering J.D.s
Growth seen from 2002 to 2010 But less than half of the ABA-approved law schoolsreported having a distance education policy 2010: 37 law schools reporting some form of synchronousdistance education courses 230% increase from 2002 40 law schools reporting some form of asynchronousdistance learning 15% increase from 2002
First-year LRW Professor David Thomson’s online LRW course NOTE: This is not taught to law students Hybrid approach Only 1/3 of the course contains an online component Upper-level research and writing courses
Used for upper-level research courses Legal Research: Indiana University School of LawSchool Advanced Legal Research: Environmental Law atUniversity of Maryland Carey School of Law
ADVANTAGES Certain students may bemore willing to participateHelps to better preparestudents for professionalonline communicationMore personal interactionbetween student andprofessorDISADVANTAGES Lack of in personinteractionIssues with technology
Is legal academia’s response to distancelearning too slow? Could/should law school courses be offeredonline?
Concord Law School (Kaplan)California Southern University’s School of LawCalifornia’s St. Francis School of Law (Claiming to be “[t]he closest thing to being an ABAaccredited online law school.”) Taft Law SchoolAbraham Lincoln University Though not accredited by the ABA, the California bar allowsgraduates from these schools to sit for the California bar
Taft LawSchool
LRW is not offered until the fourth year
Concord 9,984/year California Southern 6,490/year St. Francis 6,500/year ( 7,000/ year if paid in installments) Taft 7,920/year Abraham Lincoln 8,000/year
accredited online law school.") Taft Law School Abraham Lincoln University Though not accredited by the ABA, the California bar allows graduates from these schools to sit for the California bar. Taft Law School. LRW is not offered until the fourth year . Concord 9,984/year
