Newly Admitted Law School Students Get a Leg-Up Online

Read more Remote Resilience stories.

As ASU continues to monitor COVID-19, the university has transitioned from in-person teaching and learning to remote options. In this challenging time, however, the collective innovation of ASU faculty and staff has demonstrated remarkable adaptability. As a method of celebrating the good during uncertain developments, the University Technology Office is gathering success stories of “remote resilience” from the ASU community. The situation globally and across the country is changing daily, but we also plan to share these stories to keep pace.

Like other schools at ASU, the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law holds Admitted Students events to begin immersing them in the ASU experience. Four times a year, this in-person program gives new law students the opportunity to network with each other, faculty, staff and current students, participate in a faculty lecture and tour the Beus Center for Law.

“Based on current circumstances and for the safety of our admitted students, staff and faculty here at ASU Law, it was decided that instead of canceling the event, we would bring the Admitted Students Program to them,” said Haily Tyler, Technology Support Analyst. In just two weeks, Dean Doug Sylvester and the Law Admissions, Marketing and IT teams pulled together a remote event for 125 students, hosted via Zoom.

The students “gathered” in one Zoom room to participate in four sessions, including an introduction from Sylvester, a mock lecture from faculty member Rhett Larson and a “Student Experience at ASU Law” presentation from assistant dean Tom Williams. Finally, ASU Law student Jordan Greenman shared information about the Metro Phoenix area and living in and loving downtown Phoenix and Arizona.

“Students also attended faculty breakout sessions to learn more about legal focus areas and clinical opportunities,” Director of Law Information Technology Edward Garcia shared. This “choose your own adventure” segue into one of ten presentations gave coverage to different topics of law that might interest students. The remote event wrapped up with a reconvening of the students and faculty into a final, Q&A Zoom room.

“Our first ever Admitted Student Program over Zoom was a success,” Tyler said. “The admitted students got to experience and engage with ASU Law from the comfort of their homes.” As the host of the event and the technical coordinator of the Zoom meetings, she didn’t encounter technical challenges that hindered the admitted students' experience, and the Admitted Student Program was recorded for those who weren’t able to attend. “All in all, I am so thankful we were able to pull this off without a hitch, and we got to meet and engage with our newly admitted students.”