Clinical legal education: the challenge of large student numbers
Abstract
English: 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. Afrikaans: Daar is gevind dat die getalleverhouding tussen kliniese dosente en studente in
Suid-Afrikaanse regsklinieke soms so veel as drie keer meer is as die internasionale
aanbevole verhouding. Daar sal ondersoek gedoen word na die vrae of die
kliniese kursus verpligtend moet wees, asook of die kliniese dosent se fokus
op studenteopleiding moet wees. In die aanspreek van die uitdaging van groot
studentegetalle, word ‘n oplossing gevind in die groepering van studente in
afsonderlike studente-regsfirmas. Die firmas se daarstelling, hul werking en die
moontlikheid van sosiale ‘lyfwegsteek’ sal bespreek word. Daar sal aangetoon
word dat die voordele van hierdie samewerking baie meer is as enige nadele.
Aanbevelings sal gemaak word en daar sal aangedui word dat die groepering van
studente in firmas tot minder kontakure met die kliniese dosente sal lei, wat weer
hulle werksladings en tydsdruk sal aanspreek.