Clinical Legal Education at the Faculty of Law: An Initial Review

The main objective of this paper is to examine the extent of clinical work undertaken by the final year students enrolled in the Sarjanamuda Undang-undang (Bachelor of Laws) at the Faculty of Law at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). An understanding of clinical legal education (‘CLE’) as commonly practised in the United States is first briefly discussed in order to provide a clear picture of the extent and how ‘CLE’ is practised in Malaysia and at UKM. This discussion is then followed by the rise of a need to review CLE practices in UKM and in Malaysia. However, the scope of this initial review is limited to professional practise modules and activities bearing clinical elements for these are the subject of concerns in light of the legal profession requirement in Malaysia. Working on the belief that law students learning experience could be further enhanced, The results of this initial review will be employed as an initial report for a comprehensive review exercise to be undertaken by the Faculty of Law of UKM in 2011 to enhance quality in curriculum delivery and in support of widening students’ clinical experience to meet the needs of the legal fraternity and industry.