Measuring responses from more than 26,000 law students across the country, the 2009 Law School Survey of Student Engagement (LSSSE) indicates that Elon Law students participate in clinical, pro bono, and field experiences more often and that they collaborate with colleagues and faculty at higher rates than the national average.
The 2009 LSSSE findings, released on January 6, indicate that 96 percent of first-year students at Elon Law have participated in clinical internships or field experiences, or plan to participate in those activities, compared to a national average of 86 percent. In addition, 63 percent of second-year Elon Law students said they often work with classmates on projects outside of class, compared with 30 percent nationally.
Elon Law’s program of study is designed to encourage extensive student interaction with colleagues, faculty, practicing attorneys, judges, and business and non-profit leaders. The following findings from the LSSSE survey indicate that the law school is achieving higher levels of student collaboration and experiential learning compared to national averages:
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| Selected results from first-year law students | Elon | National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Plan to or have participated in clinical internships or field experiences | 96% | 86% |
| Plan to or have participated in a student-faculty committee | 51% | 27% |
| Often work with classmates on projects during class | 34% | 16% |
| Learning to work effectively with others | 59% | 47% |
| Selected results from second-year law students | Elon | National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Plan to or have done volunteer or pro bono work | 88% | 77% |
| Often participate in clinical or pro bono activities as part of a course or for academic credit | 31% | 19% |
| Often work with classmates on projects outside of class | 63% | 30% |
| Often work with classmates on projects during class | 34% | 15% |
| Selected results from third-year law students | Elon | National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Often work with other students on projects outside of class | 48% | 29% |
| Have done a legal research project with a faculty member outside of course or program requirements | 42% | 27% |
| Have been a member of a law student organization, club, or society | 88% | 71% |
| Have been a law student organization leader | 69% | 42% |
“At Elon, we encourage high levels of collaboration among students, faculty and lawyers,” said George R. Johnson, Jr., Dean of Elon University School of Law. “These relationships and practical experiences equip our students to be more effective lawyers and ethical leaders.”
Additional findings from the LSSSE survey that highlight Elon Law’s emphasis on leadership development among law students include the following:
– 88 percent of first-year Elon Law students indicate their law school environment encourages the ethical practice of law, compared with 79 percent nationally;
– 70 percent of second-year Elon Law students indicate they have worked to develop a personal code of values and ethics while at law school, compared with 49 percent nationally;
In addition, 79 percent of third-year Elon law students reported improvement in speaking clearly and effectively while at law school, compared with 64 percent nationally. Eighty-two percent of first-year law students at Elon said they were being provided with the support needed to succeed academically, compared to 70 percent nationally.
The Law School Survey of Student Engagement was first administered nationwide in 2003. This year, students from 82 law schools participated in the survey. The survey instrument is based on the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), which gathers data on undergraduate student experiences, based on five benchmarks of quality. LSSSE is co-sponsored by The Association of American Law Schools and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.