1. THE ROLE OF LAW CLINICS IN EXPANDING HUMAN RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE: A CASE STUDY OF THE NIGERIAN LAW SCHOOL YENAGOA CAMPUS LAW CLINIC
*Felicia Omonigho Eimunjeze is deputy Director (Academics) Nigerian Law School,
Ileola Adesina,
Lucia Odigie- Emmanuel, l Both lecturers at the Nigerian Law School

2. INTRODUCTION Conceptualizing Justice as an ideal Scope of presentation
The Law clinic as a tool for humanizing justice
Law clinic as instrument for transforming the future of Justice delivery in Nigeria
Law clinic in expanding human rights and access to justice

3. INADEQUATE ACCESS TO JUSTICE: A HUMAN WRONG
Access to justice under the Nigerian Constitution 1999
Fundamental human right and access to justice in Nigeria in Chapter 4 of CFRN
Fair hearing, Sections 36(1) CFRN 1999
Access to Justice 35(1) (4) and 35(5)
Reality of justice administration in Nigeria
“Justice is the means by which established injustices are sanctioned” ― Anatole France

4. NEED TO REMEDY POOR OR LACK OF ACCESS TO JUSTICE
Governments attempt at detecting and remedying human right abuses
Yenagoa community in Nigeria
Nigerian Law School and its host communities
Law clinic as sustainable corporate social responsibility of Nigerian Law School

5. STRUCTURE OF THE NIGERIAN LAW SCHOOL’S YENAGOA LAW CLINIC
Established in January 2013
Membership
Structure of clinic
Mediation clinic
Human rights clinic and
General practice clinic
Management of clinic

6. ACTIVITIES OF THE CLINIC
school based clinic activities
MEDIATION CLINIC
Resolution of matrimonial dispute
Intervention in community youth unrest

7. HUMAN RIGHTS CLINIC Street law programmes Human rights advocacy
Sensitization on civil &
political rights

8. GENERAL PRACTICE CLINIC
Enlightenment programmes of the clinic
Visits to Prisons and police stations
Collaboration with the Legal Aid Council
Securing the release of detainees

9. CHALLENGES TO THE OPERATIONS OF THE YENAGOA LAW CLINIC
Institutional challenges
The structure of students’ academic calendar; time constraints
Attitude of lawyers
Funding and logistics
Insecurity in the Niger Delta

10. OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES
Enlisting support of government agencies
Interface with the local bar
Funding
Linkages with other clinics around the globe

11. CONCLUSION
The Yenagoa Law Clinic though still very young and inexperienced, is set to fulfill its mission as it is garnering popularity among the immediate host communities who have started coming to the clinic trusting that they will find help that will bring succor to their situations.
The authority of the school is also being sensitized to propose amendment to the Practice Direction in States where there are law clinics for students in such clinics to be provisionally licensed to have limited audience in the lower courts.