McGeorge’s Online MSL is the Future of Legal Education

Partner with Technology

Technology advances at a rapid pace. As younger generations continue to enter the workforce, they come sans knowledge of a world without it. Resistance to technology can lead to inefficiency or undesirableness in a law firm or organization where candidates want to work or as a partner a client might want to hire.

While some software, such as legal research databases, is standard, new legal technology always emerges. Updates and innovations help legal operations run better, facilitate client communications, and simplify students’ lives.

Utilize Practical Skills

Law school was built on a foundation of curriculums culminating in the American bar exam. While internships occurred in the summer, the focus on practical skills was not as heavy.

There is added value to having experience in legal practice or legal services. For those using their education to gain specialized knowledge while working in the field to expand their skill set, the degree acts as a door opener to further their career. There are some things that cannot be taught, such as how to interact with others, advocacy, and professional etiquette. Skills like these are learned through experiences like shadowing colleagues and becoming accustomed to the working environment. By placing value on not only classroom learning but also real-world experience, the outlook of the profession shifts.

Start from the Beginning

Openness to change starts at the beginning, with the education of law students. Law schools need to emphasize the benefits of technology and how it can help legal proficiency. The early introduction of artificial intelligence, case management systems, discovery tools, legal research software, and other programs get the newest generation of practitioners acclimated early to change.

There is already a stark difference between the classes of students starting now and those who have been practicing for 20 or even 10 years. The older generations saw the internet emerge and integrate into their lives, even though it was already well-established by the time they started working. Many still used paper files as technology advanced, and they attended school and began their careers in a pre-pandemic world.

The pandemic changed the way people utilize technology and jumpstarted the workforce’s capacity to perform remotely. Before, while remote learning was possible as well as remote work, it was not as common of an option as it is now. Even a hybrid model was unheard of. Now, remote work and remote learning are everywhere, which helps students and employees alike. The commute time saved can be used for other personal or familial obligations. For students, remote learning and the flexibility it offers opens up access to education.

Even post-pandemic, there are still many people – especially those in the legal field – resistant to this kind of change. Instilling the values of flexibility, trust, and correct management in students will allow them to carry it over to the workspace. Those students become CEOs, managers, and bosses. If they know that environments that accept technology help productivity, efficiency, and morale, they will carry it over into the field when they begin to manage others.

 

McGeorge is Part of the Future

The future of legal lies in the ability to adapt and move forward as times change. The legal profession, while not known for this, is forced to do so as well. As older generations retire and make way for newer ones, places of business – including law firms, university law schools, and other legal organizations – must be willing to embrace the changing legal landscape.

McGeorge School of Law is at the forefront with our options for legal education. We offer not only a Juris Doctor degree for those who want to become practicing attorneys but also a Master of Science in Law (MSL) and LLM degrees for those who want to work within the legal field without being lawyers.

Our MSL degrees in both water and environmental law and government and policy give our students specialized knowledge that they can use to advance their careers. Our faculty are experts in their fields and a constant network and resource for our students and alumni. Better yet, our program is completely online. We give our students the ability to do both: complete their degree without having to make a choice of sacrificing their jobs or other personal obligations. The flexibility in asynchronous lectures and assignments lets our students choose how their education will fit into their schedule, not the other way around. This structure helps them strive and achieve success. And they still have access to every resource any McGeorge student or graduate does – being online does not hinder any aspect of their educational journey.

Change can be hard, but it is usually necessary and always unavoidable. In this case, giving students and later on employees a better quality of life by utilizing flexibility and technology is a good and much-needed change. For us, it starts right at the source – in our remote classrooms within our school. And we instill this motivation in our graduates so they can carry that change with them.

If you are waiting to get an advanced degree because of these common obstacles, look no further. McGeorge School of Law and our online MSL program may just be the perfect fit for you. Call our admissions office today or check out our admissions portal to learn more and start your journey.