University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Description

The Refugee Law Clinic in Ljubljana was created during the 2000/2001 academic year as a pilot project involving four partners, namely the Faculty of Law (University of Ljubljana), UNHCR Ljubljana, GEA 2000 Foundation (Asylum Lawyers Network) and Pravno-informacijski center nevladnih organizacij - PIC (the Legal Information Center for NGOs). After encouraging results in the first year of activity, the clinic managed to double the number of students involved per academic year and a new contract of co-operation was signed by the Faculty of Law, UNHCR Ljubljana and GEA 2000.

Since its creation, the clinic has worked closely with the Administrative Court of the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Interior's Office for Migration (Asylum Sector) and the Office for Administrative Internal Affairs (Migration and Naturalization Sector), and the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia.

The clinic follows the "external" clinical model: while the faculty provides the clinic with introductory lectures on asylum law, office space and equipment, mentor organizations maintain student-mentor relationships, which are the basis of the practical component of the training. The UNHCR, through its partner in Slovenia, PIC, provides the clinic with partial financial support, legal assistance and lecturers. Students are mainly involved in drafting applications for refugee status, counseling asylum seekers, conducting country of origin research, and drafting appeals.

Clinic Activities

Over the past year, the clinic participated in an exchange study visit with the Warsaw University Legal Clinic. In addition, it organized two seminars on general international and European refugee law, with the participation of 37 students and legal practitioners from the region.

The Refugee Law Clinic in Ljubljana is not, yet, formally recognized as part of the law school curriculum. The students work on a pro bono, non-accredited basis (only those in their final year of study are allowed to participate in the clinic). The official acknowledgment of the courses attended by students and their practical work at the clinic is one of the main goals.

Up to present, 71 students have received training at the clinic. Students have the opportunity to get involved in all stages of the refugee status determination procedure. They primarily draft briefs and sometimes do country of origin research. They are present at refugees ' hearings and may even conduct the hearings at the office of one of the 12 attorneys affiliated with the clinic, under the mentor's supervision. More advanced students may be present at court procedures. Students that have successfully passed the course of the Refugee Law Clinic may apply to be a member of the Moot Court team at the Annual International Asylum Law Moot Court Competition.

Contact information

as. mag. Saša Zagorc
Pravna fakulteta
Univerza v Ljubljani
(za pravno kliniko)
Poljanski nasip 2
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenija

Tel: + (386) 01/ 42-03-163
Fax: + (386) 01/42-03-115
Email:sasa.zagorc@pf.uni-lj.si