The Role of Clinical Legal Education in Creating Sustainable Employment and Entrepreneurship Models for Individuals with Criminal Records

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

7-16-2014

Conference / Event Title

12th International Journal of Clinical Legal Education Conference: Clinic without Borders & 2nd European Network of Clinical Legal Education Conference Euro-Clinic: Is there a distinctive identity for European Clinical Legal Education?

Conference / Event Location

Olomouc, Czech Republic

Abstract

We will do a panel based on a collaboration between our three institutions -- American University, Washington College of Law, George Washington University and the University of Maryland on developing employment and business models aimed at creating opportunities for individuals with criminal records in the United States.

The presentation will detail the various legal and other obstacles confronting individuals with criminal records who are seeing employment or business opportunities. These obstacles -- the inability to secure employment or business related licenses because of criminal records and employer refusal to hire individuals with criminal records -- have a disproportionate impact on low income individual and racial and ethnic minorities.

The presentation will then focus on ways that each of our clinics have integrated work aimed at paving avenues of employment and entrepreneurship for individuals with criminal records, including changes to the pedagogy in our clinics; advocacy and litigation strategies challenging barriers; empirical projects on collateral consequences of conviction; and developing entrepreneurial models that allow individuals to create sustainable businesses.

Objectives: Discuss employment obstacles confronting individuals with criminal records in the United States; Describe empirical studies which show that employment obstacles are particularly acute for individuals of color with criminal records; Discuss recent efforts to expand employment opportunities for individuals with criminal records; Discuss the role of Clinical Legal Education in assisting individuals with criminal records; Identify opportunities for additional work or collaboration in this area

Comments

The clinical legal education movement continues to push the boundaries. This conference will provide an opportunity for us to explore these new frontiers.

This year’s particular conference themes: Clinic within the wider law curriculum; Multi-disciplinary clinics; Virtual clinics; The growth of clinic in Europe; Growing clinic around the globe; Clinics across borders – students working together around the globe; Meeting of the UK Clinical Legal Education Organisation.

Papers are also welcome in relation to standing conference themes: Clinical scholarship; Reporting research findings (final or interim); Assessment/grading of clinical legal education – in particular: how do rubrics and other techniques help in the grading/evaluation process?; Evidencing best practice; New clinics and new clinicians; Review of clinic operations; Student and faculty attitudes to clinical learning.

The International Journal of Clinical Legal Education at Northumbria University is proud to announce its 12th annual international legal education conference in conjunction with the European Network of Clinical Legal Education. Previous conferences have been held in London (2003), Edinburgh (2004), Melbourne (2005), London (2006), Johannesburg (2007), Cork (2008), Perth/Fremantle (2009), Newcastle upon Tyne (2010), Valencia (2011), Durham (2012) and Brisbane (2013). These conferences serve as a unique forum in which clinical educators from many jurisdictions come together to discuss all aspects of clinical teaching and learning, to learn from one another and to share best practice.

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