your laptop and books out and put on your headphones ( a class requirement ).
Remembering the Healthy Hawks guideline , “ Be social , from a six-foot wingspan ,” you shout a quick “ hello ” from your seat to your classmate across the aisle , who is at least six feet away . The professor , wearing a face covering as well , enters the classroom . She disinfects the teaching station and technology equipment with some alcohol wipes , puts on her microphone , and takes her place behind the plexiglass partition installed at the podium . Some students will be attending class via Zoom today , so she logs in to get everyone set up . She lifts her head up , smiles through her mask ( though you can ’ t see it ), and announces that class is about to begin . This is what law school in a time of pandemic feels like .
“ I have sometimes used the word ‘ lonely ’ to describe legal education in 2020 ,” shared one of our third-year law students , Logan Caldwell . “ It is obvious from talking to professors and other students that everyone is trying very hard to make the legal education as high
Professor Mavrova Heinrich welcomes students to the first day of Trial Advocacy classes .
quality as has been offered in the past , but there is no replacement to seeing others in person , having open dialogue in class , and debates in the hallways .”
And that ’ s true . The energy that once filled the law school building ; the lively conversations that echoed throughout the common areas as students chatted about their next class , the upcoming job interview , or the plans for the weekend ; the sound of guest speakers over the lunch hour in the law school commons – they are just not there anymore . Every once and again , you may get the occasional flashback of what law school felt like before the pandemic . You may hear laughter or pass by a small group of students excitedly talking about something , even if six feet away from each other . You may see people
Sitting six feet apart , students listen attentively during class .
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