A PracticeBased Approach Improving Law Student Employability Skills in the Context of a Pro Bono Teaching Clinic Dr Francina Cantatore Centre for Professional Legal Education Bond University Australia ID: 771617
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A Practice-Based Approach: Improving Law Student Employability Skills in the Context of a Pro Bono Teaching Clinic Dr Francina Cantatore, Centre for Professional Legal Education, Bond University Australia
The Bond Law Clinic Program Pro Bono volunteer opportunities for Law students in 6 Clinics: Commercial Law ClinicCommunity Law ClinicCriminal Law ClinicHuman Rights ClinicImmigration Law ClinicStart-up Law Clinic 2
Case study: The Bond Commercial Law Clinic
Main objectives Promote community service/volunteering opportunitiesProvide practice-based learning opportunities for students to increase employability skillsProvide a free public legal service Encourage lawyers to engage in pro bono activities and mentoring program
A Commercial Law Clinic OperationSupervision and other issuesServices:Free legal advice to small business, non-profits and entrepreneurs Is there really a need?
Structure 4 Integral components
Clinic procedures Students don’t provide legal adviceInterview under supervisionHands-on legal researchDraft legal adviceLawyers provideTimely feedback – draft adviceImmediate feedback – interviewing skillsTraining: Students and lawyersInduction Volunteer handbook
The student learning experience Induction training – volunteer handbookInterviews & administrationLegal researchDraftingFeedbackPersonalised feedback & model answersDiscussion in clinicSurveys – reflection & review Fact sheets
Community engagement and employability Positive benefits for students• experiential learning > real clients and cases• promoting employability > communication skills, ethics & professionalism• promoting social responsibility > community service • networking and mentoring opportunities
University run clinics There are many successful Australian university run law clinics eg: The Kingsford Legal Centre at the University of New South Wales which incorporates a number of different clinical subjects and is run by a staff solicitor. The South Australian law schools - Flinders University, University of South Australia and University of Adelaide also adopt a similar model involving legal academics who also have legal practice experience and current unrestricted practising certificates to provide legal advice to clients. T he University of Queensland Pro Bono Centre incorporates a number of different clinics in which students can enrol for academic credit.
CLE v Pro Bono Clinical Legal EducationPro Bono ProgramsAcademic credit Purely voluntary non-reward Primary motivation - securing gain Social justice/professional responsibilityTeaching focusCommunity service focusCourse feesNo costFormal assessment procedures Informal or no assessment Specific l earning and teaching outcomes Informal feedback and reflective practices Targeted pedagogical objectives Limited pedagogical objectives
Bond Commercial Law Clinic - A hybrid model OverlapCommunity service setting Creating a pro bono ethos Partnerships – law firms/ community organisationPro bono work + learning and teaching outcomes = an optimum practice-based learning experience Need Professional supervision Structure and learning outcomes Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebroid
Challenges for pro bono teaching clinics FundingAdequate staffing, supervision and spaceLocation and structure of projectsShould student participation be required or voluntary?Relationship between clinical courses and pro bono projects E nthusiasm of law deans and faculties and rewarding the efforts of student leaders/staff. Image from gettyimages
A work in progress Bond Law Clinic Program – 4.5 yearsEvidence of success – students, university, lawyers, communityGrowth in number of clinicsPerceived 16%increase in graduate capabilities in students
University run pro bono clinics - an untapped resource? National pro Bono Centre Australia advocates pro bono in law schools - lack of pro bono clinicsNeed for more targeted qualitative research and a structured approach in universitiesThe Pay-off Developing altruism and employability skills in law students Community benefits Teaching and learning outcomes
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