Perceptions of Prospective Advocates Attaining Legal Education During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Advocates are one of the elements of law enforcement that are crucially needed by justice seekers; hence, a good legal education is needed. Then, how is the advocate education process during the COVID-19 pandemic? This study will reveal the perspectives of prospective advocates in participating in the Special Advocate Profession Education (PKPA) during a pandemic about how their motivations, reasons, and experiences continue to follow the education process under the shadow of the coronavirus that still exists. This qualitative research was conducted on 40 prospective advocates who participated in the 12th PKPA Batch in 2021. The data were obtained by conducting in-depth interviews with each PKPA participant and recording them. Furthermore, audio analysis was conducted to maintain the validity of the data. The findings showed that a strong passion for becoming an advocate is their ambition, and the legality of PKPA organizers and the application of health protocols are the reasons for prospective advocates to continue their education during a pandemic. Another finding was the experience of PKPA participants who considered that new adaptations were needed, and feelings of limited and technical obstacles were barriers that had to be further corrected in the implementation of advocate education. The implications of this research are to provide constructive advice for advocate education providers in implementing PKPA well during the pandemic and provide more attractiveness to prospective participants to participate in PKPA comfortably and safely.