THE DAVAO City Justice Zone, in partnership with the University of Mindanao (UM) College of Law, launched the Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP) Externship Orientation and Onboarding Activity on Sept 30 to guide and prepare law students for government agencies.
The event, participated in by around 100 participants from various law schools in Davao City, supervising lawyers, and representatives of different agencies, includes orientations and the topic of LSP or the Law Student Practitioner Rule, an element of CLEP.
CLEP is one of the mandatory subjects of law schools and is crucial for students to observe the work of government offices and courts to give them an idea of processes or procedures before becoming future lawyers.
“It is an avenue really for law students to participate in different activities of the courts, the agencies of the government so that they would be able to witness firsthand the activities or the operations of these offices,” UM College of Legal Education Assistant Dean Ahmedsiddique Dalam said in an interview.
Dalam hopes for more participation from partner agencies to attend the annual CLEP event in order to develop law students to become more knowledgeable in working in bureaucratic offices.
Atty. Philip John Pojas, Rizal Memorial College (RMC) Colleges of Law CLEP director, attended the activity to hone law student practitioners on the guidelines of externship rules, protocols, and ethical standards.
Davao City Justice Zone, established on May 14, 2029, is the 3rd justice zone created by the Justice Sector Coordinating Council that delivered significant programs and activities, namely the support towards jail decongestion, strengtheningthe barangay justice system, and rehabilitation and reintegration of the drug offenders and persons deprived of liberty (PDL).
On Oct 7, 2024, the City Government of Davao issued Executive Order No. 33 or “An Order Institutionalizing the Support of the City Government of Davao to the Davao City Justice Zone” that aims to improve the delivery of just and accountable justice services.
