What is a legal clinic?

“Clinical legal education is a legal teaching method based on experiential learning, which fosters the growth of knowledge, personal skills and values as well as promoting social justice at the same time. As a broad term, it encompasses varieties of formal, non-formal and informal educational programs and projects, which use practical-oriented, student-centered, problem-based, interactive learning methods, including, but not limited to, the practical work of students on real cases and social issues supervised by academics and professionals. These educational activities aim to develop professional attitudes and foster the growth of the practical skills of students with regard to the modern understanding of the role of the socially oriented professional in promoting the rule of law, providing access to justice and peaceful conflict resolutions, and solving social problems.”  (European Network for Clinical Legal Education)

Developed in American Law Schools at the beginning of 20th century, legal clinics have spread all over the world. In Italy, legal clinics started to expand in 2009. Particularly important are the clinical programs of the University of Brescia , the International University College (IUC) of Turin , the Roma Tre University  and the Centre of Documentation L’Altro Diritto  at the University of Florence.