Law's not hard; it's just hard to get into: a study of alternative entry students to law school. Issue 2 (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Evers, Maxine; Olliffe, Bronwyn; Dwyer, Angela
• Is Part Of: Law teacher. Volume 51:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 151
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: Widening participation -- legal education -- alternate entry schemes; Law -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; 340.07
• DOI: 10.1080/03069400.2015.1126445
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-9400

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Widening access to higher education is a challenge currently under discussion in Australia and the United Kingdom. The increasing number of alternative entry programs offered by universities has made tertiary study, including law study, more accessible. One concern with widening access to legal education is the ability of students entering law school through means other than very high academic scores to undertake a law degree successfully. Students who enter law school are generally referred to as "high achievers", having qualified through an admission policy based on competitive rankings. The implementation of equitable access programs in some Australian universities has resulted in a number of places being made available to final year high school students who meet the eligibility criteria. Lowering the entry requirements to some courses provides opportunities for students whose circumstances have affected their ability to attain competitive ranking scores. The Principals' Recommendation Scheme (PRS) is one of these programs. The University of Technology Sydney in New South Wales, Australia commenced the PRS in 2012. UTS:Law was one of the first Faculties to develop a strategy to support these students. The Faculty is committed to resourcing all students in their study and, as a result, is engaged in the ongoing evaluation of the academic and co-curricular programs provided to students. This paper explains the implementation of the PRS and the relevant support infrastructure available to students. It also considers the research into student retention and academic success and makes a preliminary assessment that, to date, the PRS students are succeeding in the transition from secondary education to law school, and that the existing infrastructure is accommodating the needs of these students. The PRS is an alternative entry scheme that provides a model for consideration by other law schools, committed to widening access to legal education.