The Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FH UGM), received a visit from the Legal Education Support Program – Afghanistan (LESPA) of the School of Law, University of Washington. The visit was held on Monday (26/9) from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the FH UGM Debating Room. The event was opened by FH UGM Dean Prof. M. Hawin, S.H., LL.M., Ph.D.
The LESPA delegation was represented by Alice Stokke, along with seven professors and lecturers from various universities in Afghanistan. “LESPA facilitates professors and lecturers from Afghanistan to come to Indonesia and discuss legal clinical education with our lecturers, particularly its implementation through legal clinic courses,” explained Laras Susanti, the event coordinator. FH UGM has offered legal clinic courses since 2012. Currently, there are at least four courses categorized as legal clinics, covering anti-corruption, criminal law, civil law, and social or community organizations.
“Why Indonesia? Because Afghanistan and Indonesia are both multicultural countries,” Laras explained. She added that clinical legal education is important not only for developing students’ practical skills but also as a means of instilling values. “For example, the value of social justice. If there are people who cannot afford legal assistance, can they be helped? Or in the context of anti-corruption, what should be done if members of the public report suspected corruption in their surroundings?” continued Laras Susanti, who also teaches the anti-corruption legal clinic course.
The main purpose of the visit was to share experiences in implementing legal clinic courses at FH UGM. The program included presentations and discussions on the history of clinical legal education, teaching methods, the number of students involved, challenges encountered, and evaluation processes. At the end of the event, the LESPA representatives were also invited to visit Bulaksumur E-21, which houses the Center for Anti-Corruption Studies (PUKAT).
Laras explained that at several universities in Afghanistan, law faculties are relatively new compared to faculties of sharia, which have existed for much longer. “We hope that the Afghan representatives can take something from their experience here, although it will later need to be adapted to the capacities and challenges they face in their respective institutions,” Laras added. (Hanifah F)
