Role of Law Clinic in Improving Legal Education and Access to Justice

Abstract

A considerable number of law colleges and law faculties in the universities had been established in recent past. National Curriculum Revision Committee (NCRC) of Higher Education Commission with the recommendations revised the duration of LLB from three years to five years which has been accepted by Universities and Pakistan Bar Council on the decision of August Supreme Court of Pakistan. This is a positive sign, but still required number of initiative for the enhancement and improvement in overall legal skills is required to be inculcated in the sphere of judicial system of Pakistan. Legal clinic is one of the modern techniques for improvement of standard of legal education by law graduates through learning practical skills as required by the overall justice system of Pakistan.  Legal clinics originated as a method of practical teaching of law school students, but today they encompass also free legal aid to the deserving segment of the society with academic links. In the academic context, these law school clinics provide hands-on experience to law school students and services to various (typically indigent) clients. Academic Clinics are usually directed by clinical professors. Many legal clinics offer pro bono work in one or more particular areas, providing free legal services to the clients. In short Clinical Legal Education is an art and it has different meanings for different people. Legal Clinic for the purpose of our law school includes variety of activities where student can participate to have a glimpse of practice of law. Clinical experience puts color in the outlines of the legal comic book….Questions which were dull and meaningless become important and exciting and answers which seemed black and white become grey, red and green. Dull legal rules become memorable elements of unforgettable events. This Article discussed the concept of Legal Clinic, its role for improvement of standard of legal education and its need for Legal Education system of Pakistan. How Legal Clinic makes students much more proactive participants in the learning process.  How students can be sent out to Legal Clinics for working with practicing lawyers for short periods to encounter real problems, clients, and courts. It also analyzed Clinical Legal Education being provided in different countries of the world.