New Virtual Practice Ready Series Prepares Students for Legal Practice

Millions of people around the world have been impacted in various ways by COVID-19, including law students. Nationwide, law students are facing uncertain job prospects and job loss as markets adjust to the economic disruption from the pandemic. Despite the current world crisis, Villanova Law students and recent graduates are continuing to gain valuable knowledge and skills this summer with the new virtual Practice Ready Series.

Developed by Villanova Law’s Office of Career Strategy and Advancement, along with faculty, alumni and employer partners, the Practice Ready Series was created to bridge the gap of knowledge and skills that students and recent grads may not otherwise gain due to shortened or cancelled summer work and delayed employment start dates.

“We don’t want our students and recent graduates to miss the opportunity to gain meaningful legal skills and knowledge about the profession due to the impact COVID-19 has had on the legal employment market,” said Jennifer Henfey, Assistant Dean for Career Strategy and Advancement. “We have pivoted our typical approach and have created the Practice Ready Series as a virtual way that students and members of the Class of 2020 can sharpen their skills and make themselves more marketable and prepared for legal practice.”

From mid-May through June, the Series will be held three to four times a week and each session will have a different focus that falls into one of three main categories—skills building and legal knowledge, employers and practice settings, and professional development skills, like virtual interviewing and networking. Led by employer partners and Villanova Law faculty, the Series will cover topics including professional responsibility and ethics in a remote work environment, cost-effective legal research skills, practical legal writing, practice area and employer setting education and more.  

“The Practice Ready Series will provide students and recent graduates with education, experiences and networking opportunities that otherwise would have been missed this summer,” said Henfey. “Our main priority is to help our students and graduates, and during these unprecedented times, this is a new way to provide students and recent graduates with the opportunity to enhance their marketability, skills and knowledge in this competitive legal employment market.”