Pracademic collaboration: Hacking into the future of legal education

Abstract

Law schools globally are modifying precedent by changing the way they deliver legal education. The latest pedagogical offerings include ‘hackathons’ and digital work-integrated learning programs. Instead of readings, lectures and specified unit outcomes, students are presented with authentic, open-ended challenges. Gamified hackathons engage students, lecturers, lawyers, IT professionals, designers and the broader community. Group ‘hackers’ form collaborative, transdisciplinary networks to craft holistic solutions to current legal problems. This Brief addresses whether ‘pracademic’ pedagogy focused on applying theory to real problems will help equip law graduates with the skillset necessary for the future of legal practice.