York Law School becomes focus of international attention
Posted on 28 June 2012
York Law School staff will visit the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, as well as Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos over the summer months to advise on the development of clinical learning in law schools. Last month, a successful workshop was held in Istanbul for Afghan Law and Shari'a faculties. A visit to York by academics and practising lawyers from Pakistan is also planned for later in the year.
The University’s unique hands-on approach to legal study is attracting considerable interest from other universities both in the UK and abroad
Richard Grimes
Rather than traditional lectures and tutorials, the hands-on approach at York uses problem-based learning and an integrated live-client clinic as core components of its undergraduate programme. As part of the course, students provide a free legal advice service to the local York community through the York Law School Clinic, gaining important real-world experience.
The York Law School was ranked second among all university law schools by the Sunday Times University Guide 2012.
Richard Grimes, a qualified solicitor and the University's Director of Clinical Programmes, said: “The University’s unique hands-on approach to legal study is attracting considerable interest from other universities both in the UK and abroad. Over the past year, York Law School staff have made presentations on problem-based learning and its law clinic at a range of national and international conferences.”
In July, Richard Grimes will visit Georgia to complete a training manual to be used as the foundation for future induction work in law schools. This follows an earlier fact-finding visit to the country in May, under a project funded by the Public Interest Law Network (PILnet).
Vietnam’s Can Tho University and the NGO Bridges Across Borders South East Asia have also asked the York Law School to assist with a training and development programme aimed at integrating experiential, clinical learning into law schools in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. A three-week workshop is planned for July/August 2012, with Richard Grimes joining colleagues from these countries, as well as from the United States and South Africa.
Over the past two years, the York Law School has worked with law schools in Afghanistan, helping them to design and deliver legal clinics that provide a much-needed source of help for the local population, while at the same time giving students the chance to put theory into practice.
Last month, representatives from the Universities of Herat, Al-beroni, Nangarhar, Balkh and Kabul, as well as legal service providers and representatives of donor agencies, such as the Open Society Institute, which promote the development of law clinics in Afghanistan, took part in a York-led workshop in Istanbul. The Open Society Institute has also agreed to fund a similar programme for academics and practising lawyers from Pakistan.
The Higher Education Academy has asked the York Law School to run a one-day workshop at this year’s International Journal of Clinical Legal Education Conference in Durham on 12 July. To find out more details contact Richard Grimes on richard.grimes@york.ac.uk.
For more information on the free legal service offered by the York Law School Clinic, or to book an appointment, phone 01904 325819 or email law-clinic@york.ac.uk.
Notes to editors:
- For more information on the York Law School at the University of York visit www.york.ac.uk/law
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