Law clinics as a teaching method in legal education

Abstract

In this presentation, I would like to analyze “law clinics” (or “legal clinics”) as a -relatively- new teaching method in legal education for civil law countries. As known, law clinics are law school intracurricular programs in which students learn by their own experience in a laboratory-like environment under the supervision of law professors, each one an expert of a certain field. This teaching method is largely used in USA universities where it was originally born. On one hand, it provides, educational wise, a “union” between law theory and practice. On the other hand it serves as a means of social justice, in so what it enables economically poor people’s access to justice. To fully understand this method, firstly I will take a look at its brief history in the common law world. Secondly, I will provide general knowledge about the basic concepts that are relative to clinical education. Thirdly, I will elaborate the method itself and will further evaluate its compatibility with the Turkish legal system. Finally, I will review the advantages and the risks using this method in legal education and will offer my conclusions.