Description

Clinical Legal Education: A Textbook for Law School Clinical Programs David Chavkin ISBN 9781422407257

This textbook was developed as a practical resource for clinical law teachers, bringing together the key lawyering skills and professional values that shape the clinical learning experience. It focuses on the concept of the “Theory of the Client,” which expands the traditional idea of case theory by considering both legal and non-legal strategies that can help achieve a client’s objectives.

Rather than prescribing fixed methods for performing legal tasks, each chapter highlights important “choice moments”—points during representation where a lawyer’s decisions can influence the direction and scope of the case. By examining these moments, the book helps students learn how to recognize critical decision points and work collaboratively with clients to make thoughtful and effective choices.

Designed with the practical realities of clinical teaching in mind, the text is concise—under 200 pages—and flexible enough to be used in a variety of clinic settings and course formats. It covers essential skills that are central to every clinical experience, including interviewing, counseling, fact investigation, and negotiation, using examples drawn from real clinical contexts.

The book was tested in several law school clinics, and the insights gained from those experiences are incorporated into the accompanying Teacher’s Manual, which provides additional guidance for instructors.

Clinical Legal Education: A Textbook for Law School Clinical Programs David Chavkin ISBN 9781422407257, 978-1422407257 & 9780327180722

Author
David Chavkin