The 2nd Asia CLE Conference

“A Generation of Clinical Evolution Achieving Greater Access to Justice”

26-28 May 2023 | Chiang Mai, Thailand

Concept Note
Introduction

Clinical legal education (CLE) is a progressive educational system most often implemented through
university-based faculty of law programs to help develop better-trained, more socially conscious legal
service providers. It is a process whereby students learn by doing. It is an experiential problem-solving
based model, in which students actively involve themselves in either real client/personal interactions or
simulation case studies set up to mirror real client/personal scenarios. This process is conducted under
the supervision of experienced clinicians and legal practitioners. CLE also involves a variety of community
outreach programs.

As a teaching device, this type of experiential problem-based learning is considered a highly effective
means of adult learning where students learn and importantly retain a vast amount of what is taught.
The use of this interactive method of teaching focuses students on becoming more able, thorough and
ethical advocates, attorneys, governmental and private employers/employees.

History of the Asia CLE Conference

The 1st Asia CLE Conference was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in November 2005. The Conference,
attended by presenters and participants from throughout the Asia region, and worldwide, significantly
raised the awareness and broaden the impact of CLE, and increased the quality and quantity of clinical
education in the Asia region. This regional event, successfully worked to gather many of the current Asia
regional CLE leading personnel and institutions. Many of these persons and institutions were, and
continue to be, directly responsible for the expansive evolution and proliferation of CLE programs
throughout the Asia region, to date. BABSEACLE, the Co-Organizer of this current 2nd Asia CLE Conference,
assisted as a Co-Organizer of the 1st Asia CLE Conference.

About the Conference

Building on the regional movement which began almost 18 years before in Phnom Penh, the 2nd Asia CLE
Conference will be held between 26-28 May 2023 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Conference will explore
and highlight the successful evolution of CLE experiences throughout the Asia region, as well as globally.

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This hybrid event (in-person and online) will provide a forum to discuss opportunities and challenges in
establishing CLE programs and initiatives, and the roles of clinical legal education in providing a higher
quality of legal education, while also promoting access to justice, strengthening Rule of Law, and a
building a culture of pro bono minded services. The Conference will serve as a platform for participants
to further build strong connections and foster national, regional and international collaboration to
further support the positive and continued evolution of CLE.

Participants will explore different models of CLE programs, and CLE methods, with a focus on how CLE
can strengthen legal education and improve access to justice. Conference sessions will also provide the
opportunity for participants to engage in strategic planning for academic CLE programs. All sessions will
employ an interactive, participatory and learner-focused methodology.

Future of the Asia CLE Conference

Following the successful completion of the 2nd Asia CLE Conference in May, 2023 the plan will be to hold
the Asia CLE Conference as a bi-annual (every two years) event, co-organized by BABSEACLE and CLE
university partners located in different Asia countries and locations.

Hosts

The Conference will be organized in partnership between BABSEACLE and Chiang Mai University (CMU)
Faculty of Law.

BABSEACLE is a not-for-profit, access to justice, justice education organization. Since 2003, BABSEACLE
has been working collaboratively with universities, law students, law faculties, legal service providers,
members of the legal community, governments, justice related organizational partners, and members of
the private business sector, to develop justice education, pro bono and legal aid related programs
throughout Asia and globally. With a core goal of assisting universities to develop and strengthen locally
sustainable, accredited CLE programs, BABSEACLE has evolved into one of the Asia , and global, CLE
leaders.

Chiang Mai University established its Law Clinic in 1994. Since its inception the CMU Law Clinic has
continued to provide quality legal services to communities, while simultaneously providing better
education to law students. Throughout the history of the CMU Law Clinic, the program has continued to
evolve, including having a much greater prominent focus on working with socially vulnerable and
marginalized people. This evolution has also included CMU formalizing its commitment to CLE with the
addition of a CLE course into the CMU LL.B. curriculum.

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BABSEACLE and CMU Faculty of Law have been working in partnership since 2007 to both strengthen
the CMU Law Clinic, and assist in the development and strengthening of other CLE programs in the Asia
region.

Rotation of the Bi-Annual Asia CLE Conference

Based upon many request of BABSEACLE’s CLE partners, following the successful completion of the 2 nd
Asia CLE Conference in May, 2023, the Conference will rotate to be take place in different Asia country
every two years. BABSEACLE will work in collaborative partnership with CLE university partners, to
organize and host this bi-annual (every two years) convening.

Presentation Application Submission

The Presentation Application Submission period will go through 15 February 2023, and presentations will
be accepted on a rolling basis.

You can find further information on the Conference website www.babseacle.org/clec/

For further information on how to support the Conference, including sponsorship, please contact
BABSEACLE Team at cleconference@babseacle.org

BABSEACLE Team

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