Clinical Legal Education Caroline Coles De Montfort University, Leicester, UK European Intellectual Property Teachers Network ccoles@dmu.ac.uk: #carriecoles
What is clinical legal education? Learning the law through the practice of professional skills , solving probelms for clients “Knowing the whole world” Aims Behavioural - Transferable skills Thinking outside the box Ethics Law in society Describe
Theoretical basis Constructivism - Dewey,Piaget Deeper learning through reflection- Schon Subject benchmarks from Bologna Process, see UK QAA UK Legal Education and Training Review (LETR)
Variety of forms Advice only to full legal representation, subj to rules of audience eg briefing barristers Real vs simulated Full part of a degree or just one element
Checklist Simulation Real client Supervision – ethics, group work, timescale Professional Code Assessment group work, reflection Real clients- lt to uncovered need, UK harsh restrictions on Legal Aid eg removed from divorce and crime areas. Consider real life local professional practice
Challenges Management structure within a Law School Teaching skills e.g. staff:student Divided profession Barrister solicitor Assessment
References and further information UK Centre of Legal Education (archive) http://www.ukcle.ac.uk LETR http://www.letr.org.uk International Journal of Clinical Legal Education at Northumbria University, UK Schon,D. (1959) The Reflective Practitioner Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) http://www.cleaweb.org for American views Law subject benchmark http://www.qaa.ac.uk Educause http:// www.educause.edu in USA Images details available No clinic module in Aston,Hudd or QM but QM run pro bono advice centre