Skip to main content

Clinical Legal Education in Palestine: A Clinical Case under Military Occupation

  • Chapter
Clinical Legal Education in Asia

Abstract

The legal clinic (hereafter “clinic”) has expanded nationally, regionally, and internationally. This clinic may offer yet a further demonstration that, in the words of Frank Bloch, “clinical legal education has gone global.”1 The legal clinic of Hebron University represents an example of the ability of such clinics to start from scratch and gradually develop a system that suits a particular context. The clinic has played the key role in establishing the law school within two years. It has not only led the overall legal education process in campus but it also became a model for legal clinics in Palestine and the Middle East region.2 The clinic, which was originally set up to provide pro bono services to marginalized groups and for students to practice law before graduation, now constitutes a hub of rights activism, policymaking, curricular development, practical training, conferencing, and networking with governmental bodies and civil society, as well as with international organizations well beyond the campus. This model proves that the capacity for law clinics to advance legal education is unbounded. Educators are still moving toward discovering the range of actions that young lawyers may afford to their local communities and to the world. However, the institutionalization of this clinic, as is the case with other legal clinics in Palestine and many Middle Eastern universities, is an issue that only the future can tell.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Notes

  1. Frank S. Bloch (ed.) The Global Clinical Movement: Educating Lawyers for Social Justice (Oxford University Press, 2011).

    Google Scholar 

  2. This article builds upon a shorter article by Mutaz Qafsheh, “The Role of Legal Clinics in Leading Legal Education: A Model from the Middle East” (2012) 22 Legal Educ. Rev. 177.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Munir Nuseibah, “Clinical Legal Education in an Occupied Territory: Attempting to Bridge the Human Rights Standards Gap” presentation delivered at The Tenth Conference of the International Journal of Clinical Legal Education, July 11–13, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  4. David Chavkin, “Thinking/Practicing Clinical Legal Education from within the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: Lessons from the Al-Quds Human Rights Clinic” (2010) 18 Hum.Rts.Brief 14.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Jeff Giddings, Roger Burridge, Shelley Gavigan, and Catherine Klein, “The First Wave of Modern Clinical Legal Education: The United States, Britain, Canada and Australia,” in Frank S. Bloch (ed.) The Global Clinical Movement: Educating Lawyers for Social Justice (Oxford University Press, 2011).

    Google Scholar 

  6. On May 28, 2012, the Hebron Clinic and 14 other clinics established the Middle East and North Africa Legal Clinics Alliance at the Middle East Regional Colloquium on Clinical Legal Education, organized by the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, United States, in cooperation with the Global Alliance for Justice Education. On November 6, 2012, six legal clinics in Palestinian universities from the West Bank and Gaza agreed to form the “Palestinian Union of Legal Clinics (PULC).” Edward Santow and George Wachira, “The Global Alliance for Justice Education,” in Frank S. Bloch (ed.) The Global Clinical Movement: Educating Lawyers for Social Justice (Oxford University Press, 2011); Ibid 371.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Frank Dignan, “Bridging the Academic/Vocational Divide: The Creation of a Law Clinic in an Academic Law School” (2011) 16 Int’l J. Clin. Legal Educ. 75.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Frank S. Bloch and Mary A. Noone, “Legal Aid Origins of Clinical Legal Education,” in Frank S. Bloch (ed.) The Global Clinical Movement: Educating Lawyers for Social Justice (Oxford University Press, 2011) 153, 164.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Margaret M. Barry, “Clinical Legal Education in the Law University: Goals and Challenges”(2007) 12 Int’l J. Clin. Legal Educ. 27, 46.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kathryn Munn, “Clinical Legal Education Through the Looking-Glass” (1989) 12 Dalhousie L.J. 505, 521.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Margaret M. Barry, “Clinical Supervision: Walking that Fine Line” (1995) 2 Clinical L. Rev. 137.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Adrian Evans and Ross Hyams, “Independent Evaluations of Clinical Legal Education Programs—Appropriate Objectives and Processes in an Australian Setting” (2008) 17 Grifth L. Rev. 52, 76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. The same has been the case in legal clinics in Jordan, as has been observed by the present writer during a workshop that incorporated a number of Jordanian legal clinics and law professors, which were organized by the American Bar Association, Rule of Law Initiative in Jordan (Amman, June 27, 2013). See Peter Joy, “Political Interference in Clinical Programs: Lessons from the US Experience” (2005) 8 Int’l J. Clin. Legal Educ. 83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Frederick Zemans, “The Community Legal Clinic Quality Assurance Program: An Innovative Experience in Quality Assurance in Legal Aid” (2000) 33 UBC L. Rev. 243, 246.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Jane Aiken and Stephen Wizner, “Promoting Justice Through Interdisciplinary Teaching, Practice, and Scholarship Law as Social Work” (2003) 11 Wash. U. J.L. & Pol’y 63.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Mutaz Qafsheh, “The International Status of National Human Rights Institutions: A Comparison with NGOs” (2013) 31 Nordic J. Hum. Rts. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Justus Weiner, “The Temporary International Presence in the City of Hebron (TIPH): A Unique Approach to Peacekeeping” (1998) 16 Wis. Int’l L.J. 281.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Arturo Carrillo, “Bringing International Law Home: The Innovative Role of Human Rights Clinics in the Transnational Legal Process” (2004) 35 Colum. Hum. Rts. L. Rev. 527.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Michael Cozens, “Clinical Legal Education: A Student Perspective” (1993) 2 Dalhousie J Legal Stud. 201.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Rachel Micah-Jones, “From Pedagogy to Partnership: Leveraging the Law Clinic to Institutionalize Cutting Edge Strategies in Transnational Labor Advocacy: The Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc.—University of Maryland School of Law Clinical Partnership” (2011) 26 Md. J. Int’l L. 113.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kevwe Omoragon, “Interface of Law and Medicine in Clinical Legal Education: Success Story of the Women’s Law Clinic is Improving the Health of Women and Ensuring Women’s Access to Justice in Nigeria” (2002) 17 Int’l J. Clin. Legal Educ. 49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Stephan Anagnost, “Promoting Refugee Law as a Means of Challenging the Status Quo at University Level Education in Europe: The Role of the Refugee Law Clinic” (2002) 2 Int’l J. Clin. Legal Educ. 38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Frances Gibson, “The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: The Response of the Clinic” (2011) 16 Int’l J. Clin. Legal Educ. 11.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Ross Hyams and Faye Gertner, “Multidisciplinary Clinics—Broadening the Outlook of Clinical Learning” (2012) 17 Int’l J. Clin. Legal Educ. 23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Susan Campbell and Alan Ray, “Specialist Clinical Legal Education: An Australian Model” (2003) 3 Int’l J. Clin. Legal Educ. 67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Jocelyn Kestenbaum, Esteban Hoyos-Ceballos, and Melissa Talvadkar, “Catalysts for Change: A Proposed Framework for Human Rights Clinical Teaching and Advocacy” (2012) 18 Clinical L. Rev. 459;

    Google Scholar 

  27. Arturo Carrillo and Nicolas Yaksic, “Re-imaging the Human Rights Law Clinic” (2011) 26 Md. J. Int’l L. 80.

    Google Scholar 

  28. John Bradway, “Some Distinctive Features of a Legal Aid Clinic Course” (1934) 1 U. Chi. L. Rev. 469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Cath Sylvester, “Bridging the Gap—The effect of Pro Bono Initiatives on Clinical Legal Education in the UK” (2003) 3 Int’l J. Clin. Legal Educ. 29;

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Frank S. Bloch and Iqbal Ishar, “Legal Aid, Public Service and Clinical Legal Education: Future Directions from India and the United States” (1990) 12 Mich. J. Int’l L. 92.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Kelly Behre, “Motivations for Law Student for Pro Bono: Lessons Learned from the Tuscaloosa Tornado,” paper presented at Durham Conference in July 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Patricia Pierce and Kathleen Ridolfi, “The Santa Clara Experiment: A New FeeGenerating Model for Clinical Legal Education” (1997) 3 Clinical L. Rev. 439.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Kimberly O’Leary, “Clinical Law Offices and Local Social Justice Strategies: Case Selection and Quality Assessment as an Integral Part of the Social Justice Agenda of Clinics” (2005) 11 Clinical L. Rev. 335.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Nisreen Mahasneh, “Applied Training Course: Legal Clinic” (College of Law, Yarmouk University, 2013), paper presented at a workshop on Law Schools Legal Clinics in Amman.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Barry Metzger, “Clinical Legal Education and Curriculum Reform: Humanizing the Law School of the Future” (1972) 3 Singapore L. Rev. 118.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Hector Olasolo, “Legal Clinics in Continental Western Europe: The Approach of the Utrecht Legal Clinic on Conflict, Human Rights, and International Justice” (2010) 194 American Society of International Law Proceedings 98;

    Google Scholar 

  37. Richard Wilson, “Western Europe: Last Holdout in the Worldwide Acceptance of Clinical Legal Education” (2009) 10 German L.J. 823.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Deborah Maranville, “Passion, Context, and Lawyering Skills: Choosing Among Simulated and Real Clinical Experiences” (2000) 7 Clinical L. Rev. 123;

    Google Scholar 

  39. Jose Fuentes, “Refections on Lawyering and Clinical Methodology” (1991) 60 Revista Juridica Universidad de Puerto Rico 40.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Paranto Wignjowidolo, “Purpose of Setting up a Legal Aid Clinic—Social Service or Legal-Reform?” (1972) 3 Singapore L. Rev. 114.

    Google Scholar 

  41. William Patton, “Getting Back to the Sandbox: Designing a Legal Policy Clinic” (2001) 16 Int’l J. Clin. Legal Educ. 96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Les McCrimmon and Edward Santow, “Justice Education, Law Reform, and the Clinical Method” in Frank S. Bloch (ed.) The Global Clinical Movement: Educating Lawyers for Social Justice (Oxford University Press, 2011).

    Google Scholar 

  43. Alice Clapman, “The Clinical Revolution: How Asylum Law Clinics can Influence National Policy and Practices in Transitional Democracies” (2001) 3 Eur. J.L. Reform 67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Richard Wilson, “Practical Training in Law in the Netherlands: Big Law Model or Clinical Model, and the Call of Public Interest Law” (2012) 8 Utrecht L. Rev. 170;

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Frank Dignan, “Bridging the Academic/Vocational Divide: The Creation of a Law Clinic in an Academic Law School” (2011) 16 Int’l J. Clin. Legal Educ. 75.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Ross Hyams, “On Teaching Students to Act Like a Lawyer: What Sort of Lawyer?” (2008) 13 Int’l J. Clin. Legal Educ. 21;

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. John Boersig, James Marshall, and Georgia Seaton, “Teaching Law and Legal Practice in a Live Client Clinic” (2002) 6 Newcastle L. Rev. 51.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Al-Hayat, 5998 (Ramallah, July 13, 2012), 5. See Harry Almond, “Strengthening the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition” (1998) 4 ILSA J. Int’l & Comp. L. 668.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Abdul H. Ansari, “Clinical Legal Education: Benefitting from the Banaras Experience” (2011) 7 J. Appl. Sci. Res. 2162.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Philip Iya, “Fostering a Better Interaction Between Academics and Practitioners to Promote Quality Clinical Legal Education with High Ethical Values” (2003) 3 Int’l J. Clin. Legal Educ. 41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Richard Wilson, “Training for Justice: The Global Reach of Clinical Legal Education” (2004) 22 Penn St. Int’l L. Rev. 421.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Mutaz Qafsheh, “The Dilemma of Legislative Reform in Line with International Standards on Gender Equality in the Islamic World: The Case of Palestine” (2013) 1 Int. J. for Legislative Drafting and Law Reform 219.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Peter Joy, “The Cost of Clinical Legal Education” (2012) 32 B.C. J.L. & Soc. Just. 309.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Lee Stuesser, “Skills for the Masses: Brining Clinical Skills to More Students at Less Cost” (1992) 10 J. of Prof Legal Ed 119.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Phyllis Goldfarb, “Back to the Future of Clinical Legal Education” (2012) 32 B.C. J.L .& Soc. Just. 279.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Justine Dunlap and Peter Joy, “Refection-in-Action: Designing New Clinical Teacher Training by Using Lessons Learned from New Clinicians” (2004) 11 Clinical L. Rev. 49;

    Google Scholar 

  57. Kimberly O’Leary, “Evaluating Clinical Law Teaching—Suggestions for Law Professors Who have Never Used the Clinical Teaching Method” (2002) 29 N. Ky. L. Rev. 491.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Beverly Balos, “The Bounds of Professionalism: Challenging Our Students; Challenging Ourselves” (1997) 4 Clinical L. Rev. 129.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Graeme Coss, “Field Placement (Externship)—A Valuable Application of Clinical Education” (1993) 4 Legal Educ. Rev. 29.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Claire Sparrow, “Refective Student Practitioner—An Example Integrating Clinical Experience into the Curriculum” (2009) 14 Int’l J. Clin. Legal Educ. 70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. David Chavkin, “Palestine Membership in the United Nations: Opportunities to Create a Justice System that Never was,” in Mutaz Qafsheh (ed.) Palestine Membership in the United Nations (Cambridge Scholar Publishing, 2011).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Copyright information

© 2015 Shuvro Prosun Sarker

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Qafisheh, M.M. (2015). Clinical Legal Education in Palestine: A Clinical Case under Military Occupation. In: Sarker, S.P. (eds) Clinical Legal Education in Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137517531_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics