3. What We Really Want Students to Learn
Supervision
in the Clinic Setting:
What We Really Want Students to Learn
Doug Ferguson

4. The supervisor, as guide and role model, should seek to be: thoughtful; insightful; measured-to-person, need and context; learned; holistic; and above all, constructively helpful.
- Neil Gold

5. Community Legal Services
125 students per academic year
800-1,000 files per year
Full representation including trials

6. Services Offered at CLS
Criminal law
Wills and powers of attorney
Small Claims Court
Landlord and tenant
Immigration
Public legal education
Human rights
Family law
Academic appeals
Mediation
Intellectual property

7. Clinical Courses Litigation Practice – 3-5 files
Criminal Law Advocacy – 3-5 files
CLS Internship – files

8. Student Autonomy
Students are responsible for all aspects of a file, under the close supervision of a clinic lawyer
Supervision designed to protect/serve clients while supporting student autonomy and learning

9. Compliance Can law students represent clients and appear in court?
Rules for supervisor responsibilities
Ultimate responsibility of supervising lawyer

10. Supervision Strategies
Training sessions at beginning of term
Student responsibilities
Legal research and theory of the case
Effective communication and writing

11. Supervision Strategies
Trial and hearing preparation
Ethics and professional responsibility
Debriefing and next steps
How do we keep track?

12. Supervision Strategies
What are your clinic’s supervision strategies?
Do you have any issues arising from supervision?

13. Keeping Track Incoming/outgoing documents Weekly progress reports
Dockets
Duty hours
Regular meetings

14. Keeping Track Technology Student supervisors Staff meetings
Future court appearances
BF/tickler system

15. Keeping Track
How does your clinic keep track of student activity on client files?

16. Classroom Components Lectures Simulations Ethical problems
Access to justice

18. Student Resources Online materials with a simulation case
“Going Broke with Coke”
Caseworker manual
Policies and procedures

19. What We Want Students to Learn
Applying theory to real life
File management
Time management
Advocacy skills
Sensitivity to client needs
Accountability and responsibility
Dealing with ethical issues
Importance of access to justice

20. Thank you!