Law School During
COVID-19
What some law students are saying about how COVID-19 has impacted their studies.
Until March 2020, Child, Parent & State
was an engaging course that kept me
involved despite the fact that I am not
planning to practice family law. The
transition to an online format significantly
decreased our ability to discuss issues
during the class hour. In person we can
all hear each other and observe how
everyone is responding to what is being
said; in Zoom, only a few people can
talk at a time, and only the ones who are
talking can be observed. We have also lost
the friendly interactions before and after
class that connect us to the school and
legal field. I do believe the traditional law
school model of teaching needs updating;
however, this experience has solidified in
my mind that a completely online format
is not necessarily the best alternative.
I believe GSU handled the pandemic well
and got information out to students as soon
as they could. Moving to asynchronous
learning was a challenge for faculty
and students, but the faculty certainly
tried their best to make the transition as
seamless as possible. For my paper and
exam classes, the courses continued as
scheduled with changes to deadlines and
canceling certain assignments to ease the
burden. I am grateful I took Public Health
Law with Professor Todres this semester
because, as Professor Todres put it, "[We]
have had the truly unique experience of
learning about public health in the midst
of one of the most significant public
health events in decades." Completing my
second-year of law school in the midst of
this pandemic will certainly be one I will
not forget.
- Fanny Chac, 2L
Georgia State University College of Law
10
April 2020
- Crystal R. Ellison, 3L
University of Florida
My experience as a student during
COVID-19 has been eye-opening, to
say the least. Though I am profoundly
disappointed in the University System
of Georgia’s unwillingness to consider
the inequities of maintaining a
competitive grading structure amidst a
global pandemic, I am grateful that my
professors have consistently shown a
readiness to go the extra mile to ensure
my classmates and I receive the caliber of
education expected from Georgia State.
The transition to virtual classes has been a
baptism by fire. However, it demonstrates
the determination and resilience of our
school and the larger legal community.
As we move forward, I hope the legal
community will continue to embrace
technology as a means to make the legal
system accessible to all who need it.
- Matt Daigle, 2L
Georgia State University, College of Law