ODI LAGI, SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER NETWORK OF UNIVERSITY LEGAL AID INSTITUTIONS, (NULAI) NIGERIA

History Participation at the 1 st All Africa Clinical Legal Education Colloquium in Durban June, 2003 CLE Driven by Network of University Legal Aid Institutions established in October, st Nigeria Clinical Legal Education Colloquium in nd All African Clinical Legal Education Colloquium’ in 2005 Establishment of 4 pilot law clinics in 2005

Why The Network Provide a vehicle to advocate for the introduction and development of clinical legal education in Nigeria. Maintain standards, promote visibility, build credibility and replicate actions Peculiarities of Nigeria: 160million population, 36 States + FCT, 35 Law Faculties, Nigerian law school with 6 campuses Diverse Engagement fronts: Academic Institutions, Nigerian Bar Association, Council of Legal Education, Local Legal Institutions, Fundraising & Donor engagements

NULAI Organizational Structure Membership is open to law clinics and legal aid institutions of Nigerian universities and law schools. Established as an NGO, non-profit Board membership comprises 8; nominated and elected from law clinics Executive Management Team of 4; elected from the Board Staff Team of 5 Volunteers made up of clinic coordinators and supervisors

Vision & Mission OUR VISION To promote and sustain the development of clinical legal education, reform of legal education and enhance legal aid and access to justice. OUR MISSION To build a network of cohesive university-based law clinics providing pro-bono legal services to the indigent and underserved; while training a new generation of skilled law students committed to public service and justice.

Objectives 1. To generate sufficient interest in the legal education sector to encourage universities and law schools to set up law clinics; and reform legal education. 2. To Provide – a. technical and institutional support to university/law school law clinics. b. a medium for exchange of ideas and peer review among law clinics. c. a link between and among law clinics and relevant institutions in Nigeria and similar organizations. d. access to training for law teachers. 3. To Assist law clinics to develop and sustain human rights based programmes such as human rights education, legal aid and access to justice that impacts on community development. 4. To Promote a culture of public/community service in budding lawyers.

Theory of Change

CLE In Nigeria

Improving Capacity of Law Teachers 136 law teachers trained on Clinical legal education and law clinic management 22 Law teachers trained on Ethics for Clinical Practice for law clinics 68 law teachers trained on prison pre-trial detention law clinics 16 law teachers trained on StreetLaw programme for Child Rights and Child Trafficking

Development of Resources

Changes in Law Students' Values, Professional Skills And Commitment To Social Justice

For 90% of law students, clinical programme played significant role in acquiring skills not provided for at the faculty before such as interviewing, ADR, File & office management, and advocacy. Other qualitative attributes include boldness, opportunities for expression. Contributed in raising the consciousness of social injustice and awakening the urge to do something about it. Interviewing and counseling was ranked highest in terms of relevance. Having the ability to interview and counsel a client as most fulfilling. The public interest component also created new platforms to learn new laws such as Freedom of Information Act, Child Rights Act and Law Against Trafficking in Persons.

Public Interest Lawyering Projects developed under different thematic areas to promote PIL 1. Prison/Pre-trial Detention Project 2. Child Rights Project 3. Women’s Right Project 4. Streetlaw and Community outreaches 5. Freedom of Information Project 6. Alternative Disputes resolutions

Prison/Pre-trial Detention

Police/Pre-trial Detention

Community Outreaches

Child Rights & Girl-Child Education

Fundraising for CLE Engagement with donors: having the capacity to meet donor standards, project planning, implementation and reporting. NULAI has secured funding from European Union, DFID, United Nations Development Fund, MacArthur Foundation, Open Society Foundations (especially OSJI)

Challenges Level of acceptance and understanding of CLE amongst law teachers- Who drives CLE?? Recognition of CLE as a career field that needs to be projected on such academic merits. Change in leadership of academic institutions Environmental challenges plaguing developing countries ;- Labour issues, power, connectivity and communication and capacity Law Clinics understanding of the Donor environment

CLE As a Brand Selling the brand remains a challenge. While law clinics can contribute in so many social development issues, the educational objective must remain the focal point. This however places law clinics at borderline of identity: civil society versus educational and creates a hurdle when dealing with donor organizations.

Moving Forward The constant challenge of selling the brand leads to a move towards consolidating efforts. How? Shifting campaign to former clinical law students now lawyers, as a potential group for support and sustainability. Finding active and creative ways of engagement ---- Exploring visibility through social networking

It Is All About the Change

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