Digital Transformation in Clinical Legal Education, Virtual Law Clinics, and Access to Justice

Abstract

Clinical legal education (CLE) promotes skill training and service learning. It provides an opening to comprehend the law and practice through practical training. Access to justice with lawyering skills is the fundamental objective of CLE. Law students can uphold the ‘rule of law' and play the leading role in legal services to the needy. Millions of people continue to be denied access to the legal system. The success of the digital transformation in CLE depends on the availability and efficiency of the adoption of advanced technology. The main theme of this chapter is to examine how the law schools approached the mode of CLE amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges faced while delivering services through VLC and examine the various types of online pro bono works. This chapter is designed in both doctrinal and analytical in terms of methodology. It also focuses on the new experiences globally in using IT and the methods that law schools can use through technology to improve access to justice.