New Zealand Law Students’ Association
EDUCATION AND WELLBEING
SURVEY 2023
In association with
FOREWORD
I am thrilled to present to you the muchanticipated results of the landmark survey conducted by the New Zealand Law Students' Association (NZLSA) in conjunction with the College of Law. NZLSA aims to foster a supportive and inclusive environment for our members — the over 9000 law students across our six law schools. This survey refl ects our commitment to legal education, our fellow law students, and the betterment of the legal profession.
The importance of this survey cannot be overstated. It reflects our collective voice and allows us to express our thoughts, concerns, and ideas regarding legal education. The responses will hopefully go a long way in shaping the future of legal education in Aotearoa.
For many this report will highlight things we already know, but also illuminate realities. We were thrilled to see a high percentage of students support the imminent changes incorporating Tikanga into the LLB, but also saw a stark reminder that there is still significant work to be done in improving and supporting the mental health of tauira.
I extend my gratitude to every law student who participated in this survey and to the NZLSA team for their support and dedication in ensuring the success of this initiative, in particular our Education VP Megan Crosbie. Thank you also to Marc Elliot from Primary Purpose and Liam van Eeden our designer.
Further thanks to the College of Law for sponsoring this project and their commitment to law students.
NZLSA knows that these results will influence our kaupapa moving forward. We also hope that those involved in the legal sector take notice and gain an understanding of who we are.
We spoke to 657 law students
75% women
23% men
1% gender diverse
21% 14% 8%
Manraj Singh Rahi NZLSA President 2O23
37%
12% 9%
University of Auckland
Auckland University of Technology
University of Waikato
Victoria University of Wellington
University of Canterbury
University of Otago
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 2
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
LAW STUDENT POPULATION
Disclaimer: this data is based on OIA requests returned in May 2023
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 3 TOTAL 9,257 UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND 2,786 UNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO 1,016 VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON 1,753 UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY 1,390 UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO 1,448
BY ETHNICITY 14% 1,296 53% 5,005 19% 1,804 10% 906 3% 250 2% 179 Asian European Māori MELAA Pacific Peoples Other † † Middle Eastern, Latin American and African BY GENDER
* * BY UNIVERSITY AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY 576 0 2250 4500 6750 9000 MALE 33% FEMALE 67%
LEARNING TEACHING
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey New Zealand Law Students’ Association
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 5
RIGHT DIRECTION 59% WRONG DIRECTION 14% UNSURE 27%
Do you feel that legal education in New Zealand is heading in the right direction or the wrong direction?
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 72% 71% 33% 77% 56% 42% University of Auckland Auckland University of Technology University of Waikato Victoria University of Wellington University of Canterbury University of Otago
I agree that the law faculty at my university adapted well to changes due to COVID-19
85
Ao
of law students think
To what extent do you believe that…
STRONGLY DISAGREE DISAGREE NEUTRAL AGREE STRONGLY AGREE
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 6
7% 39% 30% 20% 4% My lecturers use interesting and unique ways of teaching 20% 58% 14% 5% 1% What I’m being taught is relevant and up-to-date 16% 54% 17% 11% 2%
I have access to the necessary resources to help me achieve in my studies
%
Te
Māori and Tikanga Māori plays an important role in their degree
“
I am heartened to see some courses focus on te ao Māori and tikanga.
“
Which best describes your attendance of lectures in person?
I attend all of my lectures
I attend almost all of my lectures
I attend about 50% of my lectures
I rarely attend my lectures
I never attend my lectures
What are some of your reasons for not being able to attend all or almost all of your lectures?
66% Employment commitments
54 % Lecture recordings are available
“ “
Not having access to lecture recordings or online learning makes law school extremely inaccessible, especially for those of us who have to work.
39% I can achieve the grades I want without going to lectures
34 % Study commitments
“ “
I strongly believe that people who would otherwise be top students are inhibited from being so because they need to work to support themselves.
40% Illness, disability, or mental health
31 % Lectures are not stimulating
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 7
0 0.125 0.25 0.375 0.5 5% 14% 19% 43% 18%
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 8
ASSESSMENTS
Views on assessment
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 9
students believe that the assessments they complete don’t reflect the skills they need after they graduate
7 out of 10
7% 43% 26% 17% 4% You are marked fairly by your lecturers 5% 10% 11% 28% 44% Handwritten exams are better than typed exams 5% 26% 26% 30% 13% You receive valuable feedback after submitting an assessment
DISAGREE DISAGREE NEUTRAL
STRONGLY
AGREE STRONGLY AGREE
Assessments that require us to memorise cases and regurgitate them in a time-pressured exam are not reflective of a person's understanding of the law, just their ability to memorise.
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 10
In-person exams Take home tests Individual essays or assignments Practical assessments 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 81% 62% 24% 93% 82% 34% Group assessments Presentations /oral assessments
What proportion of your overall course grade should be attributed to final exams? I agree that each of the following help with my learning
“
40 % OR LESS BETWEEN 40% AND 60% 60% OR MORE 46% 45% 6%
“
% of law students find lecture recordings useful for their assessments
Online lecture recordings are the only way I have been able to get through my degree — they are invaluable to students with disabilities.
How useful have you found each of the following resources for helping you with your assessments?
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 11
94
20% 35% 34% 9% 1% Resources from a friend or colleague 36% 22% 24% 12% 5% StuDocu 47% 9% 16% 15% 10% ChatGPT/AI NOT
NOT THAT
HAVE
USEFUL AT ALL
USEFUL
NOT USED USEFUL VERY USEFUL
“ “
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Disclaimer: These questions were not compulsory. Therefore the proportions are based on the sample who chose to take part. These questions were also asked just prior to and during the exam period.
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 12
*
Have you felt any of the following during the past 30 days?
During the past 30 days, 1 in 4
students have always felt anxious
There should be more understanding of the stress and anxiety that the law degree puts
students.
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 13
Stressed Overwhelmed 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 Anxious Depressed
ALWAYS 36% ALWAYS 26% ALWAYS 25% ALWAYS 10% OFTEN 37% OFTEN 22% OFTEN 41% OFTEN 40% 13
“
on
“
Do you feel you have adequate mental wellbeing support available through the university/faculty?
Thinking about your overall mental wellbeing, do you feel that your law school mostly impacts this..?
What kinds of mental wellbeing support would you like from your university or faculty?
Law faculty specific support, rather than just from the wider university.
UNSURE 35%
“
“ “
Seminars and workshops on balancing other interests and study, managing stress, expectations and anxiety.
“
It would be good to have someone to reach out to within the faculty.
“ “
A proper portal or something that can provide helpful tools and people to contact.
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 14
YES 20% NO 45%
0 0.15 0.3 0.45 0.6 32% 9% 59% In a negative way In a positive way Makes no difference or unsure
“
“
CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 15
How strongly do you agree or disagree that: The legal profession is...
STRONGLY DISAGREE DISAGREE NEUTRAL AGREE STRONGLY AGREE
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 16
38
% of law students say that the legal profession is not interested in looking after the wellbeing of new graduates
7% 33% 31% 13% 4% A good industry to work in 3% 20% 31% 27% 8% A welcoming place for you 2% 18% 25% 26% 12%
in looking after the wellbeing of new graduates
Interested
What type of work do you want to do after graduating with your LLB?
How confident are you in securing a first job in your preferred industry?
42
39
22
14
12% 11
Disclaimer: this graph only includes data from students in their third year or higher.
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 17
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
Not confident Slightly confident Somewhat confident Fairly confident Completely confident
* * 0 0.15 0.3 0.45 0.6
53%
%
%
%
%
% Private practice Government or policy In-house lawyer Working for an NGO or community organisation Consulting, accounting, or finance Corrections or policing Lecturing or research
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 18 What area of law would you like to work in once you graduate? 42 % Litigation 37% Criminal 50% Corporate/commercial Disclaimer: this question was only answered by the 53% of students who indicated that they want to work in private practice. * * 31 % Employment 37% Family/relationship property 31 % International/ human rights 25 % Intellectual property/media 23 % Property/ land 22% Public 19 % Te Tiriti o Waitangi 18 % Indigenous /Māori land 17% Environmental
Overall, how well or poorly has your summer clerkship prepared you for entering the workforce?
Do you intend on completing a profs (Professional Legal Studies Course) course after graduating?
Disclaimer: These results are based on the 12% of survey participants who had completed a summer clerkship.
UNSURE 14%
NZLSA Education and Wellbeing Survey 2023 New Zealand Law Students’ Association 19 Very poorly Poorly 0 0.125 0.25 0.375 0.5 44% 40% 11% 4% 0% Neutral Well Very well
* * 19
YES
81% NO 5%
TĒNĀ RAWA ATU KOE
New Zealand Law Students’ Association