Tipping Point: Will the Pandemic Mainstream Online Learning in Philippine Legal Education?

Abstract

PART I of this essay argues that the pandemic is not and will not be the tipping point to the system-wide acceptance of online legal education. On the other hand, the aspect of legal education to which online learning will most likely have a significant effect is presented in PART II.

COVID-19 significantly disrupted the Philippine legal education system, forcing even the traditionalists to consider online learning. However, no amount of watering will make a plant grow in infertile soil. With the kind of system currently in place, with the actors, philosophy, and focus dominating therein, and with the hard and soft infrastructure within its reach, online legal education will not be part of the mainstream law school pedagogy—despite the pandemic. And it will not be a legitimate and effective alternative to the prevailing teaching strategies among Philippine LEIs—in spite of its potential.

Keywords: legal education; philippine legal education; online learning; online distance learning; tipping point; pandemic; covid; law schools