ABSTRACT

The wellbeing of students in higher education generally, and law students, in particular, has become an area of increasing concern in recent years. Despite the growing interest in the area, empirical work on the wellbeing of distance learning law students remains sparse. This paper builds on previous studies around wellbeing in higher education, especially in relation to law schools, by reporting on the findings of a series of focus groups conducted with distance learning law students at The Open University. Its aim was to explore participants’ perceptions of how studying law had impacted their wellbeing. Its findings indicate that participants viewed the online distance-learning nature of their studies as having the most significant impact on their wellbeing, generating a range of practical and psycho-social implications. Although issues specific to the law as a discipline were raised, it appeared to be the mode of delivery, not the subject content, that was of primary relevance. This exploratory study is particularly salient at this time when law schools across the globe have been forced to perform an ‘online pivot’, with many now also considering expanding their long-term online offerings. The paper concludes by considering the ways in which the results of this study could usefully inform future wellbeing initiatives within online legal education.

摘要

近年来，高等教育学生的福祉，尤其是法学院学生的福祉，已成为人们日益关注的领域。尽管对该领域的兴趣与日俱增，但关于远程学习法学学生福祉的实证研究仍然很少。本文以先前关于高等教育福祉的研究为基础，特别是与法学院有关的研究，报告了在开放大学与远程学习法学学生进行的一系列焦点小组的调查结果。其目的是探索参与者对学习法律如何影响他们的福祉的看法。调查结果表明，参与者认为他们学习的在线远程学习性质对他们的福祉产生了最重大的影响，产生了一系列实际和社会心理影响。尽管提出了作为一门学科的法律的具体问题，但似乎主要相关的是授课方式，而不是学科内容。这项探索性研究在全球法学院被迫执行“在线支点”的时候尤为突出，许多法学院现在也在考虑扩大其长期在线课程。本文最后考虑了本研究的结果可以有效地为在线法律教育中的未来福利计划提供信息的方式。许多人现在也在考虑扩大他们的长期在线产品。本文最后考虑了本研究的结果可以有效地为在线法律教育中的未来福利计划提供信息的方式。许多人现在也在考虑扩大他们的长期在线产品。本文最后考虑了本研究的结果可以有效地为在线法律教育中的未来福利计划提供信息的方式。