Perceptions of Online Learning and COVID-19 Countermeasures Among Law Students in a One-year Followup Study

This is a one-year follow-up study to a May 2020 study, conducted May 2021 about perceptions of law students about the transition to online learning as well as government required pandemic public health measures and their effect on returning to face to face classes. The trend in preference for online courses is increasing by 17%, despite the fear that burnout or frustration from the COVID-19 transition to online learning for law schools would create a general dislike for online courses. There are still a significant number of students who have difficulty with online learning of as many as 25%. About 72% of the respondents feel safe returning to class with no pandemic precautions, but accommodations should be considered early in the planning stages for the semester for those 15% who still do not feel safe enough to return to the classroom. In general, the survey dispelled a wide concern that online courses would sour students to online teaching, rather the online experience resulted in a significant increase in interest in online learning in law schools.