Practice-Oriented Training of Students at Law Clinics as a Factor Influencing Accessibility of Legal Assistance

Abstract

The paper focuses on the role of legal aid clinics in enhancing access to justice. The first part provides a brief overview of law clinics history and development of clinical legal education in some English-speaking countries, highlighting the US evolution from student-led initiatives to accredited experiential learning, the UK’s community-focused programs, Australia’s community-center-based clinics, and Singapore’s mandatory pro bono requirements. Dual goal setting — providing citizens with access to justice and students with real cases experience — is an important characteristic feature of the majority of legal aid clinics. The second part deals with clinical legal education in Russia, where clinics emerged in 1995 and now number about 200 nationwide, coordinated by the Center for Development of Legal Clinics. A case study of Saratov State Law Academy’s clinic illustrates its structure: tiered student involvement (from interns-observers to consultants), specialized supervision by faculty and/or practitioners, and outreach programs aiding diverse groups of vulnerable citizens. Empirical data from a Saratov State Law Academy students’ survey reveals reasons for joining the law clinic, students’ preferences in work carried out in the clinic, their evaluation of gained experience and importance for future careers. The article concludes that integrating compulsory credit-bearing clinical course-work would advance both educational outcomes and access to justice.