LILAC conference

The Learning in Law Annual Conference (LILAC) will be hosted by Warwick on 3-4 January 2008 and the early booking date will soon be here (15 Nov, and latest deadline 6 Dec). The conference theme is “(Dis)-integration – designs on the law curriculum” and covers a variety of topics including

The Keynote speakers are Prof Avrom Sherr from IALS and Prof Sally Kift of the Queensland University of Technology. Some of Sally’s work on the first year learning experience of law students can be found here, which suggests that Australia have been ahead in this area of research for some time. But, in the UK…

In the UK, the first survey of first year student experiences (not subject specific) was only reported earlier this year, by the HEA. It would be interesting to see if the Australian findings from law students are equally applicable in the UK, and how we can build upon the sucesses and perhaps reduce the negative aspects. In the HEA’s study, 40% of those with little of no knowledge of their programme had considered withdrawal from their studies.

Perhaps the conference theme of integrating the law curriculum will move towards filling that gap of knoweldge that some students may have. I wonder if, and how, the experience of law students differs, and how this can be addressed?