Lawyers are sounding the alarm that a shift to greater online course delivery at Tasmania's only law school could lead to a decline in the quality of graduates.
Law Society of Tasmania president Simon Gates joined former governor Kate Warner, chief justice Alan Blow and other high-ranking legal professionals for a meeting with University of Tasmania (UTAS) Law School dean Michael Stuckey about one month ago to discuss changes to the delivery of both the undergraduate law degree and postgraduate practical legal training.
Mr Gates said the Law Society was also worried about a loss of experience in the law faculty, with 15 academic teaching staff resigning or leaving the university since 2020.
"I feel that if the uni continues down this path, particularly in relation to the practical legal training and the move away from the place-based intimate teaching environment and legal education experience that the law school has always offered, the university is in danger of destroying much of what has been great and unique about legal education in Tasmania for decades," Mr Gates said.
"The graduates of the law school from the University of Tasmania make up a vast majority of the members of the legal profession, and a large number of the people who fill senior statutory roles in this state such as in the judiciary, tribunals, Magistrates Court, but also positions like the Ombudsman, Integrity Commission and other important statutory bodies.
University says it will not reduce face-to-face training
UTAS will tender for a new legal training organisation to deliver the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from next year.
The course is already offered through an external provider, the Centre for Legal Studies, and runs over 26 weeks from Hobart once a year.
UTAS wants the course run twice-yearly with the option of online study to allow students outside of Tasmania's capital greater access to the course.
In a statement last week, Professor Stuckey said: "We want the Diploma of Legal Practice to be accessible to students who may live a long way from Hobart and who may be juggling the demands of work and family."
Mr Gates said the Centre for Legal Studies' offering was nationally renowned because of its hands-on approach and close partnership with local judges, magistrates and lawyers, with a 100 per cent employment rate for last year's graduates.
"The problem with [the UTAS proposal] is those mainland providers are already an option for students anyway, so it doesn't increase accessibility to practical legal training, but what it does do is undermine the sustainability and potentially the future of our unique and far superior centre for legal studies," Mr Gates said.
UTAS maintains it will not reduce face-to-face teaching in its broader law offerings, with Professor Stuckey confirming on ABC Radio Hobart last week the university classified "synchronous online activity" as face-to-face learning in line with national accreditation standards.
"The new model contains no less face-to-face teaching, that's for sure," Professor Stuckey said.
Mr Gates said he was hopeful UTAS would take on board the concerns of the state's legal professionals.
"Our concern is a move towards less lectures, less contact time will actually lead to a watering down of the content delivery and therefore a decline in the standard of legal education provided through the degree," he said.
