On March 26–28, Mariia Plotnikova, an associate professor in the department and co-executive of the project “Access to Justice: EU Best Practices for Ukraine,” and Anna Slavko, an associate professor in the department, participated in the March School “Effective Legal Clinic in Wartime: Development and Management Program,” organized by the Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine.
The school brought together participants representing legal clinics from various universities across Ukraine with the aim of strengthening the capabilities of their legal clinics and exploring new opportunities for their development. During the event, participants discussed pressing issues regarding the operations of legal clinics amid the ongoing war, as well as ethical standards for their functioning—ranging from ensuring confidentiality to the use of artificial intelligence. Significant attention was paid to the automation of record-keeping and the integration of AI into the daily operations of the clinics, as well as the specifics of working with clients and providing legal aid. A separate focus was placed on the development of high-quality legal education products, including methodologies and documents, as well as ensuring their appropriate quality standards. Additionally, participants examined the psychological aspects of legal clinic operations, particularly the application of a trauma-informed approach, and discussed issues of information policy and communication practices, including the use of the Association platform for internal and external engagement.
The knowledge and best practices gained during this March workshop by the coordinators of Sumy State University’s Specialized Legal Clinic on War-Related Issues are planned to be integrated into the clinic’s activities in order to improve the quality of legal aid and expand the scope of legal education initiatives.