The Clinical Legal Education Conference, a successful collaborative effort between the USAID Rule of Law Program and Northwestern University, took place in Tskaltubo on July 10. The conference brought together 15 university representatives focusing on clinical legal education to share experiences, address challenges, explore avenues for improvement, and provide practical examples for universities interested in establishing their own legal clinics.

The event commenced with welcomes and introductions by Mariam Vardosanidze, Legal Education and Bar Reform Specialist from the Rule of Law Program, and Bridget Arimond, Clinical Professor at Northwestern University. Their opening remarks set a positive tone for the discussions ahead, highlighting the significance of clinical legal education and emphasizing the importance of collaboration among universities.

“Law school clinics play an essential role in serving both pedagogical and social justice goals.  Pedagogically, clinics teach the practical skills that lawyers need to practice law, while simultaneously deepening students’ understanding of legal doctrine through application of that doctrine in real-life situations. At the same time, clinics serve the critical social justice goal of providing access to justice to vulnerable populations.” - Bridget Arimond explained to the attendees.

During the conference, university representatives engaged in a group work session to tackle the challenges faced by clinical legal education in Georgia. Participants shared their experiences, identified obstacles, and exchanged ideas on potential strategies for improvement. The collaborative nature of the session encouraged discussions and the sharing of best practices.

One of the conference highlights was the sharing of experiences, methodologies, and challenges encountered in evaluating student work. These sessions provided insights into effective assessment strategies and the significance of continuous improvement in clinical legal education.

A panel discussion on the effectiveness of externships in Georgia was moderated by Professor Arimond. Panelists, including Dean Tea Jugheli from the Georgian National University (SEU) Law School and Mariam Burkadze, Head of the Training Center at the Legal Aid Service, explored the challenges and opportunities associated with externship programs. The discussion shed light on the importance of experiential learning and its impact on students' legal education.

In her concluding remarks, Dean Jugheli praised the conference, stating, "The conference served as a significant demonstration of the necessity for law clinics to collaborate and address shared challenges and issues, with the ultimate aim of enhancing clinical legal education in Georgia."

The Clinical Legal Education Conference marked a significant milestone in promoting collaboration, sharing experiences, and enhancing the quality of legal clinics in Georgia. The discussions, practical examples, and evaluation of regional law clinics will guide future programmatic interventions by the USAID Rule of Law Program.