Online Legal Education in Italy

Abstract

This report commences with a brief outline of the Italian framework for legal education and access to legal professions, followed by an overview of information and communication technologies, before finally focusing on online legal education in Italy both prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and after the first lockdown. The paper encompasses both university legal education and continuing legal education required of lawyers and describes some significant MOCCs experiences.

Before the pandemic, e-learning experiences carried out by the universities (more developed in other disciplinary fields) were still limited, except for “telematic universities”, specifically designed according to an e-learning model, whose educational offerings and quality, however, were considered inadequate.

Nonetheless, the pandemic (still underway) has accelerated a process that had already begun. The debate regarding online education has emerged from the niches, acquiring greater centrality and renewing enthusiasm, but also raising concerns related to online education.

The paper discusses both the achievements and the challenges faced by “traditional” Italian universities. The analysis is carried out taking into consideration the regulatory context, the characteristics of the university system, of law schools and their teaching staff.

Keywords: distance learning, COVID-19, legal education, online education, regulation of education, law schools, pandemic and legal education, COVID-19 and legal education, e-learning, MOOC, Italy, comparative law

JEL Classification: K10, K30