Passport to Practice: Insights from an Upskilling Bootcamp for Law Students and Lawyers during a COVID-19 Summer

43 Pages Posted: 1 Aug 2022

Date Written: July 30, 2022

Abstract

The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 significantly disrupted the plans and aspirations of the next generation of legal professionals. Seeking to help, a consortium of legal professionals and educators developed Passport to Practice—a free, online “bootcamp” for law students and recent graduates. The program’s curriculum covered topics important to successful practice in the 21st century legal profession, but rarely taught in law school. Response to the program far exceeded expectations with over 650 students enrolled, attending from 34 countries and 243 different law schools. Attendee feedback on the program was overwhelmingly positive. In addition, the program attracted a highly diverse group of participants, particularly women and persons of color.

Analysis of the feedback data collected from the participants provided important insights on the program’s results, impact, and appeal. A more holistic curriculum, delivered interactively, by quality instructors, with flexible attendance options, in a program that is affordable are key themes that emerged from the qualitative and quantitative data analyses. Variances in participant responses based on gender or age group were found, but not on race or ethnicity. it is hoped that these insights may be of value to others interested in innovating legal education.

Keywords: legal education, COVID-19, practice-based education, diversity

JEL Classification: I21, I23, K00

Suggested Citation

Fisher, Holly, Passport to Practice: Insights from an Upskilling Bootcamp for Law Students and Lawyers during a COVID-19 Summer (July 30, 2022). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4176631 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4176631

Holly Fisher (Contact Author)

Passport to Practice, LLC ( email )

716 N Golf View Road
Lake Worth Beach, FL 33460
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.passporttopractice.org

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