Towards a framework for the implementation of virtual reality in legal education and training

It is imperative that law students in higher education are provided with a holistic education
curriculum that covers all three areas of being a lawyer: 1) legal knowledge, 2) practical skills, and 3)
ethical awareness (Sullivan et al., 2007). Simulation is an effective way of teaching practical skills that
cannot be taught in a traditional classroom setting (Newbery-Jones, 2015). Virtual reality (VR) is a
technology that is increasingly being used in education to facilitate simulated learning exercises
(Kavanagh et al., 2017). In this study, a novel virtual reality (VR) legal simulation application is
developed and will be tested amongst students to identify its potential impact in this context. It aims
to propose a theoretical framework to guide the implementation of virtual reality technology in legal
education contexts.