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About the Project I Course Information & Syllabi I Country Information I Articles I Discussion Forums |
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Hungary A non-profit law clinic program has been operating at the ELTE University School of Law in Budapest, hosted by the Foundation for Clinical Legal Education and Street Law Programs for the past two years. The Foundation launched the non-profit law clinic jointly with NIOK (Nonprofit Information and Training Center, Budapest), under the collaborative efforts of PILI (Public Interest Law Initiative) and ICNL (International Center for Not for Profit Law) in September 2000. The program starts in September of each year with a Start-Up-Training to introduce students to both the theoretical and practical aspects of the course. In the first semester there is a theoretical component, accompanied by a methodological (pedagogical) program that addresses substantive law (NGO law) and develops skills of students that they will need for the practical work (such as interviewing, researching or drafting). The
practical work component takes place in the second semester, when
students attend live-
client consultations at the premises of NIOK (2x2 hours a week)
under intensive supervision. This is a good practice opportunity for
the students and also helps to increase NIOK’s capacity to cater to
clients’ needs. As part of the university’s clinical legal education program, the non-profit law clinic is integrated into the university curriculum and shares the requirements of other clinical subjects. It is a two-year academic program. In the first year, it is an alternative subject, which means that students earn two-credits/semester with grades between 1-5. The criteria for grading were worked out by the program director and the practical and theoretical teacher. In the second year, the program is among the optional facultative subjects, meaning that students earn two-credits/semester, without grading. The program is being supported by ICNL, PILI, COLPI and OSF. More recently, the program became part of a project (along with the clinics of the Jagellonian University in Warsaw and St. Petersburg University in Russia) that aims to develop clinical legal education in Russia, with funding from CAF Russia.ICNL’s Educational Initiative began with ICNL’s NGO course at the Central European University (CEU) in Budapest, which has now become an established part of the curriculum of the Legal Studies Department at CEU. There are two components to the course: (1) the introductory NGO theory course has been taught for four consecutive years and (2) the NGO clinical course has been offered for three consecutive years. Both courses have generated increasing interest and success. Due to high demand, initial enrollment has expanded. Post-graduate students from over 15 countries in CEE and the former Soviet Union, including numerous students from Hungary, attend the courses, and return to their countries with an increased knowledge and interest in this area of law. ICNL senior staff have led the teaching of both the theory and clinical course portions, using materials on international standards and regional best practices developed by ICNL. 40-50 students attend the theory course, while the clinical course is limited to 10-15 students. Contacts:Agnes Kover,
kovera@jogklinika.datanet.hu
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