Transforming Legal Education in India: The Role of Clinical Legal Education and Trial Advocacy

This research paper explores the transformative role of Clinical Legal Education (CLE) and trial advocacy in reshaping legal education, with a focus on India. CLE bridges the gap between theoretical legal knowledge and practical application by engaging students in experiential learning through legal aid clinics, moot courts, internships, and advocacy training. Originating in the U.S. during the 1960s civil rights movement, CLE has evolved globally and gained traction in India since the late 1980s, driven by UGC and BCI recommendations. The paper examines CLE’s objectives, including skill development, social justice promotion, and ethical training, while highlighting its relevance in addressing contemporary challenges like access to justice and technological advancements. Trial advocacy, a core component of CLE, equips students with essential courtroom skills such as case theory development, witness examination, and legal argumentation. Despite its potential, CLE in India faces challenges like infrastructural limitations, faculty shortages, and regulatory constraints. The paper proposes reforms, including curriculum standardization, faculty training, and institutional partnerships, to strengthen CLE and trial advocacy training. By fostering competent, ethical, and socially responsible lawyers, CLE and trial advocacy contribute to justice delivery and legal empowerment, aligning with India’s constitutional vision of equality and justice.