The Law Clinic

Approved by the Academic Council Decision No. 11 of July 8, 2025

 

Regulation of the Law Clinic

 

Article 1. Status

 

1. This regulation defines the status and functions of the Law Clinic of the Faculty of Law, Business, Humanities, and Social Sciences at THU (Tbilisi State University).
2. The Law Clinic (hereinafter referred to as the "Clinic") is an educational structural unit of the Faculty of Law, Business, Humanities, and Social Sciences at THU, which ensures the implementation of the educational practical component defined by the syllabus of professional practice within the framework of the bachelor's and/or master's law programs offered at the Faculty of Law, Business, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
3. The Clinic, based on this regulation and the respective syllabi of the undergraduate/master’s law programs, ensures the realization of the practical training course, which aims to develop the necessary professional skills for students through practical activities.
4. The Clinic is not a legal entity, it does not have a separate office, letterhead, or seal.

 

 

Article 2. Functions

 

1. The Clinic ensures the realization of the professional (educational and industrial) practice course as stipulated in the bachelor’s/master’s law programs.
2. The Clinic helps strengthen the theoretical knowledge gained by students and develop their ability to apply that knowledge in practice, promotes the development of professional skills, and tests the general and field-specific competencies acquired in the academic environment in real or simulated life scenarios. It deepens and consolidates theoretical knowledge and its application to solve specific practical tasks, as well as assesses the readiness of students for independent work.
3. Clinical education aims to develop the following general and field-specific competencies as defined in the syllabus:

a) Searching for primary information, interpreting, evaluating, processing, and storing (fixing) primary data in professional activities;

b) Searching, processing, and analyzing information from various sources for solving legal problems, and providing a legal evaluation of the factual circumstances (qualification);

c) Applying theoretical knowledge in a professional context;

d) Drafting legal documents;

e) Operating in accordance with ethical norms of a lawyer;

f) Practical validation of the skills defined in the above subpoints through legal consultations and legal services for clients, and developing communication skills.

 

Article 3. Scope of Activity and Procedures

 

1. The process of implementing the practical training includes the following stages:

a) Preparatory meeting,

b) Informing the student by the practice supervisor and introducing the syllabus content, planning the tasks,

c) Involvement in the work process and daily record-keeping in the practice diary, executing planned activities according to the syllabus,

d) Consulting the student by the practice supervisor,

e) Interim review/evaluation of the practice, demonstrating the completed work,

f) Maintaining a continuous practice diary and preparing the practice report,

g) Final evaluation of the practice – public presentation (defense) of the practice report.

2. Clinical education activities may include:

a) Codification and systematization of Georgian legislation, preparation of draft laws, etc.;

b) Attendance at court hearings, organizing discussions about the process, and evaluating the results of the process; analyzing and assessing the positions of the parties involved (plaintiff, defendant) and their representatives (lawyers) in writing; drafting a decision on the case (in writing);

c) Submitting a petition to the Office of the Public Defender in accordance with the Organic Law of Georgia on the Public Defender, based on specific facts of human rights violations;

d) Organizing and providing free legal consultations for socially vulnerable groups and other clients (e.g., students) under the supervision of the practice supervisor and/or invited specialists as defined in the syllabus;

e) Providing free legal services for socially vulnerable groups and other clients (e.g., students), under the supervision of the practice supervisor and/or invited specialists as defined in the syllabus (preparation of documents for dual citizenship; preparing documents for registration of rights in the National Agency of Public Registry; preparing drafts of civil law contracts; drafting administrative complaints; drafting complaints on administrative offenses; drafting claims and submissions for civil and administrative cases, etc.). For this purpose:

e.a) A registry is opened for each individual and/or legal entity, following the form approved by the clinic supervisor;

e.b) Students, together, prepare applications, claims, appeals, and other procedural (legal) documents for claims, appeals, and cassations;

e.c) They study case materials and gather evidence;

e.d) They participate in judicial and administrative processes, and in accordance with Georgian legislation, protect the interests of the client;

f) Other activities defined in the syllabus.

 

Article 4. Syllabus

 

The Law Clinic operates within the framework of the syllabus for professional (educational/industrial) practice defined by the bachelor’s/master’s law programs. Joint projects prepared with external participation may also be carried out within the Law Clinic framework.

 

Article 5. Structure

 

1. The Clinic is led by a member of the academic staff from the Faculty of Law, Business, Humanities, and Social Sciences who is also the author/co-author of the syllabus for professional practice.
2. The Clinic’s activities are carried out by academic staff who are the authors/co-authors of the syllabus for professional practice.
3. Practicing specialists may be invited to work at the Clinic.

Article 6. Evaluation

1. The student’s performance during professional (educational-industrial) practice within the Clinic is evaluated based on the instructions for performing the professional (educational-industrial) practice.
2. The evaluation of the Clinic's work is carried out by the THU Quality Assurance Service through self-assessment indicators, surveys of students and academic staff, and interviews with recipients of the free services provided by the Clinic, which is done according to the attached questionnaire.

 

Article 7. Amendments and Additions

 

Amendments and additions to this regulation are made based on a decision of the Faculty of Law, Business, Humanities, and Social Sciences Council