Hebron University and Washington & Lee Law Schools set up a Program of Cooperation

 

Hebron University Law School has begun a program of cooperation with the Law School of Washington & Lee University, Virginia, which started by the visit of Professor Speedy Rice to Hebron University. The program comes as part of the mandate of the International Legal Foundation, a New York-based NGO, to establish a criminal law clinic in the District of Hebron. Professor Rice held four training sessions for law students and faculty members.

In the first session, which targeted criminal law students, Professor Rice addressed the basis of legal aid for the poor who are unable to hire a lawyer. The guest highlighted the evolution of the legal aid system in the United States and the impact of U.S. law on international standards pertaining to legal aid. In this context, six students from the Hebron University College of Law were selected to act as interns in a legal clinic specializing in criminal law which is being run jointly by the Hebron University and the International Legal Foundation.

This was followed by a roundtable discussion with law professors of Hebron University that focused on the modern methods for the preparation of course syllabus, by reviewing a number of model syllabi that were implemented in European, American and African universities in which Professor Rice has been involved.

Parallel to this visit, the College of Law organized a public lecture in which Professor Rice talked about the legal system in the United States, with special focus on the legal education and jury system. The lecturer outlined the legal developments in the United States and the reforms that the U.S. legal education system has undergone. He touched upon the practical legal education that prepares law students for smooth integration in the market before graduation, including by using legal clinics across the country and using interactive methods instead of memorization. He referred to the jury system and their contribution to the social responsibility as a means for popular oversight on courts. This lecture raised many questions by professors and students who discussed the possibility of applying the jury system in Palestine.

The American professor finally conducted a training session for professors of the College of Law on the interactive teaching methods, including by working groups, problem-solving, moot courts, mock trials, providing live client legal advice, representation, and observing court hearings.

• 
• 
•