At University of Split’s Faculty of Law, there is a Legal Clinic, a form of teaching and professional activity where law students, under mentors’ supervision, provide free legal assistance to citizens.
The Legal Clinic was designed to give students practical experience with real legal cases, enabling free primary legal aid, advice and general information to citizens, under the guidance of professors and lawyers.
The Legal Clinic is an organizational unit of Split’s Faculty of Law, authorized to provide free primary legal aid to citizens with lower income, without specialized legal knowledge, in accordance with the Law on Free Legal Aid. As a provider of primary legal aid, the Clinic is authorized to give general legal information and advice, but not to represent clients in proceedings. This part of legal assistance is reserved for lawyers, as explained by members of the Legal Clinic.
Legal assistance is provided by students in higher years of the integrated undergraduate and graduate law study, under supervision of professors and associates. This way, the Clinic also serves as a form of training in University's integrated law program, where students acquire skills for work in the legal profession and practical use of theory, in organized teamwork on cases brought to the Clinic by clients seeking legal assistance.
Citizens approach the Clinic with various legal issues, ranging from family law, labour issues, consumer problems, to inheritance and housing rights.
-Clients can schedule appointments by phone, email, or come in person to Clinic’s office. They are required to bring relevant documentation and valid ID for record-keeping. They also need to fill out a request form for free legal aid. If a client cannot come in person, they can contact the Clinic via email to receive an online form to request legal assistance, which must be filled out. Most cases are resolved orally, but in more complex cases with unusual documentation, the case is taken to work and delivered either in person or by email, usually within a week of filling in the request. If it is determined that the client qualifies for secondary legal aid, due to need for representation in court, other proceedings or drafting submissions, they will be referred to an appropriate address, members explained.
Working hours:
The Clinic offers free legal advice and general information, as well as first serious encounter of students with clients’ complex life situations.
The Legal Clinic operates on Mondays 10-12 AM and Thursdays 5-7 PM. It is located at Split Faculty of Law, Domovinskog rata 8.
Photo: Faculty of Law, Cropix
