Rector of St Petersburg University: "Clinical form of education should be included in higher education standards in Russia"

The conference was attended by: Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation; Sergey Kabyshev, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education; Tatyana Moskalkova, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation; Sergei Stepashin, President of the Russian Union of Lawyers; rectors of leading law schools; academics; and heads and interns of legal clinics. 

In his opening address to the conference participants, Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, emphasised that educational clinics are essential in the system of education and professional training of qualified specialists.

The clinical form of education should be implemented not only in the legal education system, but also in other areas of study. Clinic-based practical training programmes for students in social sciences and humanities have already been implemented in some universities, including St Petersburg University. It is important to raise awareness of university legal clinics. People should have a clear understanding of what kind of assistance they can get and in what areas.

Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation

It is one of the state priorities that we ensure accessibility of legal aid to protect the interests of low-income citizens; veterans; participants in the Special Military Operation and their families; large families; orphans; people with disabilities; and other socially vulnerable categories of citizens. Valery Falkov stressed the importance of increasing the social significance of the legal clinics’ activities. According to the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, it is necessary that educational clinics adjust to meet local needs and adapt to regional, sectoral, socio-economic, and socio-political circumstances. "Citizens and representatives of public organisations should feel the unique approach to legal service of legal clinics" consultants, based on their willingness to thoroughly understand the problem and help to resolve it, and as a result, gain professionally and personally rewarding experience’, underlined Valery Falkov.

According to Valery Falkov, work in legal clinics and a practice-oriented approach to professional training improve the quality of higher legal education. The fact that people trust students who work as consultants in legal clinics indicates a high level of education received and the quality outcome of the university’s activities. 

Furthermore, it is important to expand the range of requests to legal clinics with stimulating tasks and thought-provoking assignments. This will enhance student involvement and provide potential employers with an opportunity to see them in action. For this purpose, it is necessary to initiate cooperation with research, industry and profile organisations, local authorities and businesses, Valery Falkov said.

Other principal areas of focus for legal clinics include involvement in the formation of new legal approaches that should reflect current trends and strategic plans for the country’s development, in particular: digitalisation; development and use of artificial intelligence; cybersecurity; and protection of intellectual property rights.

"It is of utmost importance that the interns of legal clinics should see and feel the public demand and the aspirations of ordinary people. It is imperative that young people should be aware of public sentiments, the value of their personal contributions and the significance of legal profession in society," stressed Tatyana Moskalkova, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation. 

The first legal clinic in the Russian Federation was opened at St Petersburg University in 1998. "In the early days of its existence, we defined the fundamental principles of the clinic’s work culture and set clear objectives and detailed targets for training performance. For students, working in the clinic is a compulsory part in the curriculum. For teachers, it is one of the mandatory formats of academic work. Also, we should not forget that St Petersburg University’s educational clinics contribute to the realisation of the third, social mission of universities by providing legal assistance to the population," said Professor Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University.

Currently, there are 20 educational clinics at St Petersburg University, including: the Legal Clinic; the Psychological Clinic; the Clinic of Applied Political Science; the Archival Centre; and the Sociological Clinic of Applied Research to name but a few. Every year, 3,000 students gain practical skills and hands-on experience in the St Petersburg University’s clinics. This helps them to build confidence in their competence and offers them the best start in their careers. Clinic-based practical training facilitates students’ adapting to work activities; adopting the idea of social significance of work; mastering the rules of legal, psychological, archival and other services, and learning to observe the standards of professional ethics. Rector Nikolay Kropachev is convinced that the clinical form of education should be included in higher education standards in Russia.