Dr. Mohammad Johurul Islam :
Though legal education is inherently a practical discipline, offering avenues to learn trial advocacy, present evidence, argue cases, interview clients, research legal issues, and marshal facts, these opportunities are often underutilized in our academic institutions. Legal education in Bangladesh has remained implanted in traditional methods, dominated by lecture-based teaching and theoretical discussions. It continues to rely heavily on conventional instructor-led training (ILT) methods or at best Socratic Method.
These include memorization, and static lectures, with minimal practical exposure. The current generation is highly familiar with TikTok, Reels, and other content creation platforms, and often finds traditional lectures disengaging and uninspiring. Students today are digital natives, accustomed to interactive and visually engaging content. They thrive in environments that offer creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Therefore, transforming legal education to align with their expectations and technological capabilities is not just an option but a necessity. Therefore, it is imperative to integrate technology into legal education to create an adaptive, interactive, and engaging learning environment. Here are some innovative strategies that can be adopted and followed in legal education:
(a) Visual Presentations
Visual presentation offers a significant advantage over traditional lecture and reading methods by catering to diverse learning styles and enhancing comprehension through dynamic and engaging content. Traditional methods, such as instructors’ dominated lectures or extensive readings, often fail to captivate students, especially in a generation accustomed to immersive digital experiences. Instead of traditional modes, visual aids such as images, graphs, charts, videos, and animations can make complex legal concepts more understandable and memorable. Though some instructors use PowerPoint slides in their classes, the lack of creativity and visually appealing animations in these presentations often limits their impact. Moreover, very often slides contain huge texts without images. However, Richard Mayer’s cognitive theory of multimedia learning (12 principles of multimedia learning) underscores the importance of well-designed visual content for effective teaching over text presentation only. Mayer’s Multimedia Learning Principles suggest that combining images, text, and animations meaningfully can significantly enhance learning outcomes. For example, his Modality Principle emphasizes the use of both visual and auditory channels to reduce cognitive overload, while the Coherence Principle advocates for the removal of extraneous elements to maintain focus on the core material.
To truly engage students, law teachers must adopt creative and visually stimulating tools. Instead of static PowerPoint slides with plain text, incorporating infographics, flowcharts, graphs, charts, animated case simulations, and real-world courtroom visuals can make legal concepts more significant and easier to grasp. Incorporating Mayer’s principles and leveraging modern tools can help instructors move beyond traditional methods; ensuring students not only understand but also retain and apply legal knowledge effectively. By doing so, teachers can ensure a truly adaptive learning environment for today’s tech-savvy learners.
(b) Simulation-Based Learning
Extended Reality (XR) technology-based simulations, such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) can revolutionize how students experience courtroom scenarios and develop essential legal skills. XR tools make learning highly engaging, immersive, and context-specific. Instead of passively observing lectures, students actively participate in legal processes, strengthening their practical skills.
Virtual Reality (VR) enables students to step into a fully immersive courtroom environment, allowing them to practice trial advocacy, client interviewing, evidence presentation, examination and cross-examination, pleadings, and judicial procedures. By experiencing a 360-degree simulated courtroom, learners can rehearse arguments and gain confidence in a realistic controlled setting. VR also fosters experiential learning by replicating high-pressure situations, such as addressing a judge or handling objections, without the real-world consequences of failure.
Augmented Reality (AR) overlays digital elements onto the real world, offering opportunities to interact with legal documents, exhibits, and other courtroom materials. For instance, AR applications could enable students to examine a virtual evidence table or reconstruct crime scenes interactively. Mixed Reality (MR) takes this a step further by blending virtual and real-world elements seamlessly, allowing students to practice interviewing virtual clients or mediating disputes with lifelike avatars. By creating customized XR content—such as simulations of a criminal trial, a civil dispute, or an appellate court hearing—institutions can ensure relevance and maximize the learning impact.
(c) Online Seminars and Webinars
Law teachers can host seminars and webinars featuring legal experts from around the world using online platforms such as Zoom, team, Google Classroom etc. These events can expose students to diverse perspectives and contemporary legal issues, enriching their learning experience.
(d) Quiz Creators and Gamified Learning
Interactive quizzes and gamified learning tools can make studying law more engaging. Platforms like Kahoot and Mentimeter can be used to test students’ knowledge in a fun and interactive manner.
(e) Legal Contests Using Technological Tools
Organizing legal contests, such as moot court competitions, using virtual platforms can encourage students to research, argue, and present their cases more effectively.
(f) Electronic Note Pads and Mobile Applications
Electronic note-taking tools and mobile applications can streamline the learning process. Apps offering legal dictionaries, case summaries, and research databases can be invaluable resources for students.
(g) Artificial Intelligence in Legal Education
AI-powered tools can assist in teaching and learning by providing personalized feedback, analyzing legal texts, and even simulating legal scenarios. Instructors can use AI to create interactive images, videos, questions for evaluation etc. by putting perfect prompts. AI can also help students understand the implications of various legal decisions by analyzing past case laws.
However, many institutions lack adequate funding, resources, and technical infrastructure, making adopting advanced tools like virtual reality, augmented reality, or AI-powered educational platforms difficult. Additionally, faculty members often show resistance to change rooted in unfamiliarity with new technologies and concerns about their ability to incorporate them effectively into traditional curricula. With strategic implementation, legal education in Bangladesh can align with global trends while maintaining its cultural and societal relevance.
(The writer is a Professor of Law at Islamic University, Kushtia).
