Clinical Legal Education

Clinical Law Programmes reflect the richness and diversity of modern law teaching and practice. With the support and assistance of the Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI, Nigeria) and the Open Society Justice Initiative/OSI, Abuja, Budapest and New York,  pilot clinical legal programmes have been operational in Nigeria.The clinical programme mounted at the Faculty of Law, Abia State University is one such programme. The Faculty provides opportunities for students to learn the skills and values essential to good legal practice through the clinical courses and service components that constitute our Clinical Legal Education Programme. The cornerstone of clinical offerings at this Faculty of Law is the ABSU Law Clinic.The ABSU Law Clinic operates like a law firm within the walls of the Law Faculty Building.  The Law Clinic is a functioning law firm -- a teaching law office. The clinic offers students the opportunity to put their legal skills to use in a variety of practice areas. 

Practice areas
Faculty members supervise about 35 students each semester in the management of various cases and projects as well as an externship program. Here are some of the practice areas offered:
Environmental law/Public health Law Clinic

Human Rights Law Clinic

Student Enrolment
The clinical courses are compulsory for students in the 400 and 500 levesl as they offer a variety of opportunities for students to apply their theoretical knowledge to real cases under the supervision of faculty members and other attorneys. Supervised in-house and or fieldwork requiring students to assume substantial responsibility for representing indigent clients with various  legal problems. Students will explore and begin to develop the fundamental professional skills involved in practicing law. Depending on case assignments, students will gain experience interviewing and counseling clients, negotiating with other attorneys/officers, planning for transactions and dispute resolutions, initiating and defending claims, writing legal opinions, conducting factual investigations, and presenting evidence.

The ELMI-ABSU Environmental Law Clinic in collaboration with an environmental NGO may offer students opportunity to start at the 300 level to conduct field work and learn the rudiments of environmental issues. The clinic will equally enrol post graduate law and other relevant students in the environmental and business faculties for support and  interdisciplinary works respectively.