University of Chicago Law School: The Electronic Projects Blog

Announcing the New Student Events Podcast

In recent months, here at the Law School we've seen an increasing number of student organizations start recording their events for online distribution. Faced with an embarassment of riches, we've decided to launch a new podcast dedicated just to student org-sponsored events, which we're calling "Open Minds" (if you've seen the fences around the fountain construction lately, you'll catch the reference). And don't worry -- student events featuring Law School faculty will be added to both podcasts feeds, so you won't miss any of that Chicago audio goodness.

You can subscribe to Open Minds via iTunes or using the podcatcher of your choice.

The Redesign Survey: Prospective Students

As part of our website redesign efforts, we have been asking our users about their experiences with the current site. One of our methods for doing so has been an online survey, the results of which we'll be sharing on this blog.

Today's installment: Prospective Students. Of those who filled out our survey: 20% were Prospective Students; 90% were applying to the J.D. Program, 10% to the LL.M progam. 80% had not yet completed their applications. Their answers to our questions are listed below.

In your application process, how often did/do you visit the Law School website?

• At least once a week 50%
• At least once a month 30%
• At least once a day 10%
• Less than once a month 10%

In your application process, how often did/do you visit the Law School website?

• To find information on applying to the Law School 80%
• To find out about the University of Chicago experience 70%
• To find information on visiting the Law School 50%
• To find information on financial aid 30%
• To find information on Orientation activities 30%
• To interact with my future classmates 10%

Are you generally able to accomplish the goals that lead you to the website? (Sample responses)

• Yes, generally.
• Most of the time...I would like to see a few more things updated during the summer between being accepted and beginning 1L. I felt a little lost a few times during the summer.
• Sometimes i am able to find quick answers, while on the other hand it takes some sort of research on this website to get answers.
• Yes
• yes and no

In your experience, what is the best thing about the Law School website? (Sample responses):

• The blogs.
• The amount of information contained about housing, the faculty blog, and the admitted students forum (although I don't think the students take advantage of it as much as they should...)
• simple, low graphics design.
• The blogs. The humor.
• I enjoyed the deans message.
• description and videos about clinics is great. the entire website should have this feel. i think there may be more to u of chicago law than academics, but its hard to tell from website other than clinical program descriptions

In your experience, what is the worst thing about the Law School website? (Sample responses):

• Financial Aid links: You go to one place for law-school specific information, the University's site for other stuff, and then the Bursar's office for whatever else. I wish all the financial aid and billing information could be law-school specific and on the law school's website.
• The promises of updates, and not meeting those promises (has happened with admitted students section, the day in the life blog, and a couple of other places as well).
• difficulty in finding relevant information regarding the course content and the total subject offered by various research centers.
• nothing
• The visitation schedule was outdated. It was back in spring 2007.
• the feel is a little dull. small print, no videos, no colors, doesn't show how students and faculty are engaged in the school beyond academics (except for clinics)

What do you wish you could do on the Law School website that you can't do now? (Sample responses):

• I would like to see some more interactive features, perhaps a tour of the law school, or something like that...and perhaps a way to discuss/post questions during the application process.
• get information easily regarding admissions.
• see more pictures of the school, classrooms, students, and better organization of course listing and descriptions for easier access. i like to compare the courses i may take at u of chicago to similar courses at other law schools and its hard on your website to see all of the courses you offer by functional area very easily

How does the University of Chicago Law School website compare to that of the other schools to which you applied/are applying? (Sample responses):

• It's much better than most.
• It's been a while, but I'd say it's one of the better websites...although at times it feels a little bit too bare-boned
• average
• It's hands down the best
• not nearly as good. uva, duke, georgetown are the best of top programs in my opinion. ucla, northwestern, and stanford not bad. harvard/yale/michigan next tier. with few caveats nyu, columbia, penn, chicago, texas very uninspiring

Uchicago.edu Gets a Makeover

As you may have heard, the University of Chicago's website is getting a facelift. After nearly ten years of service, the old design will be put out to pasture in April. The new version has just been unveiled in "Beta" mode -- you're encouraged to take a look around and leave comments.

A Virtual U. of Chicago?

Yesterday I went to a demo of a "virtual reality" platform called vMerse, created by a company called CADCorporation. Basically, a vMerse is a 3D re-creation of an environment (like a college campus), in which users from all over the world can interact in real-time via their "avatars." It's kind of like SecondLife, but with much better graphics and a more controlled environment. There is currently a beta version of a University of Michigan vMerse available, a demonstration of which made up most of yesterday's presentation. The undergrad admissions office there is using the site to teach prospective students about the University, and to help them get a sense of what the campus is like, from the football stadium (watch for the Wave) to the Diag (complete with animated squirrels). This proves especially useful to those for whom an actual campus visit is not feasible, but also supplements the experience of those who plan to visit.

The demo was set up by Julie Peterson, the new University of Chicago VP for Communications. It will be interesting to see if there is interest enough from the higher levels of the administration to pursue such a project for the U of C.

Speaking of Social Networking...

The Law School has established a group for students, alumni, and current and former staff on LinkedIn, the "professional networking" site. If are already on LinkedIn and would like to join, you can send a request to join now. If you're not familiar with LinkedIn, you can find out more here.

Law Firms and Social Networking

Social network sites seem to be gaining a foothold in the legal community. Michelle Madsen writes in an article in Legal Week:

With the launch last week of DLA Piper's Facebook-style networking tool for its trainees, it looks as if the social networking buzz is slowly working its way into the legal world. For the comparatively isolated in-house legal community, having easy online access to peers and external counsel alike could spell the beginning of an era of greater empowerment and integration, but how ready are they to log on and be counted?

Want to see what this social networking stuff is all about? Check out the Law School's Facebook page.

[Thanks to Lois Casaleggi from Career Services for the tip.]

It's (Almost) Official

It took a bit longer than anticipated (due largely to last week's lousy weather), but after receiving proposals from eight firms and interviewing four finalists, the Law School has selected a firm to partner with us in redesigning our web site.

Unfortunately, we can't tell you who it is quite yet. Once all of the i's have been dotted and t's have been crossed, we'll make the announcement.