During their first year, trainee solicitors take a number of skills modules and part of their training consists of video recording presentations of legal arguments. The recordings are then played back to the trainee solicitors and the tutor advises them on their presentation technique.

When tutorials took place in person, we had special equipment consisting of laptops, mics, sound cards and webcams in each room to record and playback each trainee solicitor’s presentation. The recording equipment was also used to capture the trainee solicitors’ final Civil Advocacy presentation which contributed to their overall marks for the year.

With the move to remote learning in 2020, we could no longer do in person recordings. Because each student was equipped with an iPad which has a camera and mic built in, though recordings of each trainee solicitors’ presentation could be done with their iPad via Zoom. Zoom and iPads were also used to record the trainee solicitors’ final examinable Civil Advocacy presentation. This format was used across several modules including Mediation and Advanced Legal Practice Irish.

Furthermore, this format was used for trainee solicitors involved in both national and international lawyering competitions.