Establishment, Mission and Objectives
Establishment
The Faculty of Law and Public Administration at Birzeit University has established the Legal Clinic to promote community engagement, provide legal advisory services to the Palestinian society and put the academic knowledge gained from the university’s law bachelor’s and master’s programs into practice. In reference to Article 49(b) of the University Statute, the Legal Clinic was established by a decision made by Birzeit University president on May 10, 2022. Accordingly, the Legal Clinic is tasked to apply clinical legal education programs, improve students’ personal and professional skills and provide legal aid to vulnerable groups. To achieve these goals, the Legal Clinic operates in cooperation with human rights institutions and relevant Birzeit University programmes and units.
Currently, the Legal Clinic is implementing a project funded by Sawasya II, a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project, to support institutionalisation and ensure the sustainable function of the clinic. The project activities will run from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023. The project supports the institutional goals and activities of the Legal Clinic and engages students in themes initiated jointly with partners.
Mission
The Legal Clinic seeks to promote its role as a debater of real-world community issues by enabling students to engage in key areas, including legal issues encountering the university community and the needs of vulnerable groups, such as women and children. Through the Legal Clinic, Birzeit University seeks to supply the Palestinian society with students who possess distinctive knowledge and skills and who are able to engage with and fulfil society needs in line with Birzeit University values and identity, which is founded on principles of freedom, equality, pluralism and social justice.
Vision
A Palestinian society that upholds the values of freedom, equality and dignity and is grounded in principles of social justice. Birzeit University aspires to realize these values by engaging students in legal cases and initiatives underpinned by effective promotion of human rights and the rule of law.
Objectives
The Legal Clinic aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Integrate students in real-world community issues to graduate students who are more capable of engaging and interacting with community issues on grounds of human rights and social justice.
- Provide legal help to vulnerable social groups and ensure their access to services and justice.
- Enhance legal education and the rule of law culture through engaging the academic staff with real community issues and ensure that this engagement is reflected on the academic activities on campus. Moreover, provide critical contributions that uphold common values and promote the rule of law.
To achieve these objectives, the Legal Clinic adapts mechanisms and strategies that engage undergraduate and postgraduate students in relevant activities. Additionally, the Faculty of Law and Public Administration started offering a course on the Legal Clinic in the 2021-22 academic year. In this course, students carry out the activities and goals of the Legal Clinic either directly or through community institutions whose work intersects with that of the Legal Clinic.
