The South Africa Human Rights Clinic: Lessons and Insights

Beth GoldblattVisiting Fellow, Australian Human Rights Centre, UNSW

Course Description

• Five week internship at human rights and public interest NGOs in Johannesburg

• Preparation and supervision by lecturer• 6 students selected for 5 organisations • Students accompanied and oriented• Based in university accommodation

Objectives

• To provide services to NGOs• Experiential learning – law in practice• International comparative experience• Commitment to human rights and public

interest law• Personal growth and development

Assessment

• Participation in preparatory workshop (10%)• Clinic Performance (70%)• Memorandum (10%)• Presentations (10%)

•Film evening•Workshop•Reading •Logistics•Orientation,history,context

PREPARATION

Concurrent Supervision

• Placement Supervision• Face-to-face/email/skype contact• Reflective journals

Variety of work experience

• Public interest clients• Indigent clients• Complex public interest litigation• Regional and international work• Conceptual work• Strategic evaluation• Forms of research and writing

Inner City Property and Heritage Case

The Franklin & Jazz Spirit (Pty) Ltd v Limbada & Others

Marikana Mine Shooting Enquiry

ProBono remote clinics

Eviction Main Street

•Substantial responsibilities•Informed interest in different areas of law•Informed choice of future work in law•Improved confidence and skills•Excitement/despair about using law for change

Student reflections

Partner evaluations

• Generally very positive• High standard of student competence, work

habits, ethics and commitment• Real assistance/value to partners• Want to repeat the clinic • Longer would be better (some)

Challenges/Insights

• Value to partners/edu-tourism?• Risk/security/logistics• Preparation• Value of the group experience• Value of different partners• Other assessment options: newsletter

article/blog/clinic output - academic?• Communication with partners (expectations,

supervision)

THANKS

QUESTIONS?