Global Clinical Legal Education

This book explores the distinctive nature of clinical legal education in a range of global contexts.

The emergence of law school-based clinical legal education has been recognised as a major innovation in modern legal education. At its best, it integrates the academic rigour of university-based learning with the practical, ethical and social justice insights that come from structured work with clients. This book examines what makes clinic different from other aspects of legal education and how it differs from experiential learning in other disciplines, particularly in its emphasis on social justice. It provides an analysis of various models that support student learning in community settings from 66 contributors across the globe. Learning goals, teaching methods, focus areas, forms of student involvement, engagement with lawyers and the challenges faced are all identified as important in giving clinical legal education its local flavour. Exploring the role of technology in clinic and the significant growth in technology-based clinics, the book reviews the ways in which clinics harness technology to serve diverse client communities and extend the global reach of clinical legal education, particularly in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

This book will be of particular interest to researchers in the fields of clinical legal education and the use of emerging technologies in legal education.

Jeff Giddings is Associate Dean (Experiential Education) and Professor of Law at Faculty of Law, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.