ODI LAGI, SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER

NETWORK OF UNIVERSITY LEGAL AID INSTITUTIONS, (NULAI)

NIGERIA

HistoryParticipation at the 1st All Africa Clinical

Legal Education Colloquium in Durban June, 2003

CLE Driven by Network of University Legal Aid Institutions established in October, 2003

1st Nigeria Clinical Legal Education Colloquium in 2004

2nd All African Clinical Legal Education Colloquium’ in 2005

Establishment of 4 pilot law clinics in 2005

Why The NetworkProvide 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 StructureMembership is open to law clinics and legal aid institutions of Nigerian universities and law schools.Established as an NGO, non-profitBoard membership comprises 8; nominated and elected from law clinicsExecutive Management Team of 4; elected from the BoardStaff Team of 5Volunteers made up of clinic coordinators and supervisors

Vision & MissionOUR VISIONTo promote and sustain the development of clinical legal education, reform of legal education and enhance legal aid and access to justice.OUR MISSIONTo 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.

Objectives1. 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

2005-2013 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

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 LawyeringProjects developed under different thematic

areas to promote PIL1. Prison/Pre-trial Detention Project2. Child Rights Project3. Women’s Right Project4. Streetlaw and Community outreaches5. Freedom of Information Project6. Alternative Disputes resolutions

Prison/Pre-trial Detention

Police/Pre-trial Detention

Community Outreaches

Child Rights & Girl-Child Education

Fundraising for CLEEngagement 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)

ChallengesLevel 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 institutionsEnvironmental challenges plaguing developing

countries ;- Labour issues, power, connectivity and communication and capacity

Law Clinics understanding of the Donor environment

CLE As a BrandSelling 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 ForwardThe 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

ConclusionVisit www.nulai.org for further information

and resources.Follow us on:

https://www.facebook.com/nulai.org.nigeria https://www.twitter.com/nulainigeria

THANK YOU