Faculty of Law and Public Administration launches Birzeit University’s Legal Clinic

On Monday, 6 June 2022, the Faculty of Law and Public Administration at Birzeit University (BZU) launched the Legal Clinic with support from Sawsya II of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The ceremony brought together Dr. Mahmoud Dodeen, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Public Administration, Ms. Reem al-Butmeh, Director of the Institute of Law, members of the teaching staff, employees, and students. The launch event was also observed by partner legal clinics and human rights institutions, whose work intersected with the BZU Legal Clinic.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Mohammed al-Qeisi, Head of the Law Department, reviewed the efforts made to operate and institutionalise the BZU Legal Clinic as a unit of the Faculty of Law and Public Administration. Expressing thanks, Dr. Al-Qeisi said that Sawasya II provided leverage to launch and initiate activities of the BZU Legal Clinic with internal and external bodies. As a precedent, the Legal Clinic course has been introduced and will continue to be taught on a permanent basis. Students will acquire both academic and practical skills in this course. The BZU Legal Clinic will be of benefit to both students and vulnerable groups at large.

Mr. Ma’moun Attili, Sawasya II representative, asserted the partnership between Sawasya II and BZU Legal Clinic. He stressed the importance of sustainable functions of the Legal Clinic to ensure the alignment of education and practice. Mr. Attili commended the unrelenting efforts made by the law teaching staff to complete this project. The proposal of the BZU Faculty of Law and Public Administration was among the best of those submitted for the establishment of legal clinics at Palestinian universities. Mr. Attili stated that Sawasya II always stood ready to promote legal education in Palestine, support legal clinics, and increase coordination and cooperation between faculties of law. He further expressed thanks for the support of Sawasya II, namely by Sweden, the Netherlands, European Union, and Spanish Cooperation Agency.

Ms. Sarah al-Barghouthi, Research Assistant at the BZU Legal Clinic and student of the MA Programme in Private Law, highlighted the importance and role of the BZU Legal Clinic in strengthening social justice and human rights. The Legal Clinic promotes community engagement by integrating community issues in the education process. This translates into aid delivered to needy community groups, ensuring justice and access to rights. Based on her personal experience, Ms. Barghouthi cast light on the role the BZU Legal Clinic plays in enhancing opportunities for students to work and gain experience by engaging in relevant activities.

Mr. Mohammed al-Khadher, BZU Legal Clinic Supervisor, made a more in-depth presentation on the BZU Legal Clinic activities. Mainly targeting students, the Legal Clinic provides real-life practice and education. Enabled to engage in the activities of human rights institutions, students observe the interaction between legal norms and real community context as well as the impact of this context on access to services by vulnerable groups, the administration of social justice, and the rule of law. Mr. Al-Khadher explained that the design of BZU Legal Clinic activities has taken account of the reality and experience of legal clinics at different universities. Hence, specific activities and identity will distinguish the BZU Legal Clinic from others. Mr. Al-Khadher made an overview of the activities initiated by the Legal Clinic with the BZU community, its future plans, and partnership with human rights institutions of similar functions. Finally, Mr. Al-Khadher stated that the BZU Legal Clinic worked on two levels: (1) individual cases in collaboration with partner institutions, and (2) student initiatives carried out under the supervision of and in coordination with the Legal Clinic while also engaging multiple academic and community organisations.

Participants from academic and human rights institutions stressed the importance and role of legal clinics in strengthening the rule of law and providing aid to vulnerable groups to access justice. Participants were willing to, and aspired for, cooperating and working together with the BZU Legal Clinic team. They were ready to negotiate cooperation mechanisms and memorandums of understanding with a view to achieving goals of the BZU Legal Clinic. In addition to upholding the rule of law and guaranteeing justice for all, both students and groups to whom aid is provided will make use of the BZU Legal Clinic.  

Currently, Sawasya II is supporting the BZU to institutionalise the Legal Clinic at the Faculty of Law and Public Administration. Having been launched on 1 April 2022, the project activities will run until 31 March 2023. The project assesses needs for sustainable functions of the BZU Legal Clincs, supports the engagement of students in operations of partner human rights institutions, and develops student initiatives in coordination with and under the supervision of the Legal Clinic.