Law Clinics and the Clinical Law Movement in South Africa provides guidelines to assist clinicians and universities with the development of the clinical legal education curriculum, teaching methodology and the administration of a university-based law clinic. The manual was developed from contributions taken from papers and presentations given by clinicians attending workshops of the South African University Law Clinics Association (SAULCA).

The book offers a wide range of guidance on many components of clinical legal education, including integrating clinical legal education with the requirements of higher education and the legal profession, setting goals and objectives for a clinical legal education programme, and an examination of the basic principles of teaching and learning as well as assessment.

It also focuses on the different methods of teaching and learning, such as lecturing, supervision, legal research and mediation. The teaching portfolio covers in detail many subjects, including client communications, drafting and civil trial advocacy. The manual pays attention to the day-to-day administration of a university-based law clinic with practical support on financial and office management as well as accreditation.

The unique feature of this manual is that the material covered in many sections offers practical advice and examples which will be of benefit to newly appointed law clinicians.

The manual adheres to SAULCA’s vision, mission and objectives, and in collaboration with its member university law clinics, SAULCA continues to investigate and explore new methods and processes which aim to improve clinical legal education and access to justice.

• Law clinics and the clinical law movement in South Africa
  • The history of the South African University Law Clinics Association
  • The role of and challenges faced by law clinics in South Africa
  • Recent developments affecting the status of law clinics within the legal profession and university funding of law clinics in South Africa
• The building blocks for a clinical law programme for law clinics
  • Integrating clinical legal education with the requirements of higher education and the legal profession
  • Foundation of a clinical legal education module
  • The setting of goals and objectives for a clinical legal education programme
  • Alignment of clinical legal education modules with the curricula of law faculties
  • Developing a basic clinical legal education programme
  • Basic principles of learning and teaching in clinical legal education
  • Assessment
• Different methods of teaching and learning
  • Brainstorming
  • Simulated exercises
  • Lectures
  • Experiential learning
  • Mentoring and supervision
  • Theory of legal research in a clinical setting
  • Discussion groups
  • Audio-visuals
  • Written exercises
  • Problem-solving and reflective lawyering
  • Mediation
• Teaching portfolio
  • Client communications
  • Negotiations
  • Office and file management
  • Clinical teaching of legal research
  • Civil trial advocacy
  • Drafting
  • Litigation
  • Judgment, legal analytical and strategising skills
  • Professionalism
  • Applying legal ethics to practice
• The management and administration of law clinics
  • Management of law clinics
  • Accreditation and rules of professional bodies applying to law clinics
  • Financial management: the financial administration and control of a law clinic
  • The legal practice of a law clinic and quality controls
  • Office administration of a law clinic

• Law clinics
• Lecturers