The Virtual Law Clinic Workshop saw fantastic participation with over 200 international attendants, guest speakers Professor in Comparative Law, Paula Giliker (University of Bristol Law School) and Diane Sechi, Senior Pro Bono Lawyer (Simmons & Simmons), and student presentations from law clinics at Bar Ilan University, Israel, Bennet University, India, University of Bristol Law Clinic, Nottingham Trent University, and Universidad de Alcalá, Spain.
Law students and Law Clinic members Jack Walton and James Loh wrote a reflection of the event:
“On 29 January 2021, the Law Clinic hosted the first international law clinic student workshop. The aim of this workshop was to provide students, from different jurisdictions, the opportunity to network and exchange ideas. The event required participating students to produce a ten-minute presentation about an aspect of law clinic life. We were delighted to see that students across various jurisdictions pulled in their unique experiences of working pro bono. Over 200 students attended this event. The workshop concluded with an insightful Q&A session, where students exchanged ideas and learnt from one another.
“We represented the Law Clinic and also assisted in organising this event. This required liaising with other law clinics and publicising the event. Our presentation focused on our involvement in the Community Law Project. We outlined how this enterprise is invaluable in helping people the Clinic cannot represent due to the restrictions imposed by the Legal Services Act 2007, for example immigration clients. We explained how clinical education helps students to become policy-reformers who are aware of such issues, as we have the opportunity to study law beyond the textbooks. Other student speakers continued with similar discussions as to whether clinical work should be mandatory, and how being involved in pro bono is vital in societies with vast wealth divides.
“We hope this will become an annual event and we would encourage anyone interested in clinical legal education, pro bono, or comparative law to take advantage of this opportunity.”
The event’s discussion themes included access to justice; client care; clinical legal education; legal aid funding; legal ethics; and regulation of law clinics.