Clinical legal education: the challenge of large student numbers

Clinician:student ratios in clinical courses at South African university law clinics were found to be, in some instances, more than three times the ratio recommended at other international jurisdictions. Whether clinical legal education should be a mandatory course in the LLB curriculum and whether the focus of the clinicians should be on student training will be probed. In considering the challenge of large student numbers, the solution of grouping students into student law firms for collaborative work will be proposed. The student firm sizes will be discussed and it will be suggested that students work in pairs within student firms. The firm set-up, its operations and the possibility of social loafing will be discussed. It will be shown that the advantages of collaboration far outweigh any disadvantages. Recommendations will be made and it will be shown that the grouping of students in firms will ensure less contact time with clinicians, which will address their workloads and time constraints.