Ms Rebecca Samaras speaks at at IJCLE Theorising Practice, Working with Professional Transitions’ Symposium

Director of Pro Bono and Clinical Legal Education at Edinburgh Law School, Ms Rebecca Samaras, presented to legal justice educators from around the world at The International Journal of Clinical Legal Education Conference 2021, which this year was centred around the important theme of ‘Turning Challenges into Opportunities: Justice Education in Times of Crisis.’

In the midst of this health crisis we face other severe crises linked to climate change and to economic, social and political instabilities everywhere. The recent past has been characterised by environmental disorder, conflict, displacement, growing economic insecurity and austerity. Increasing social polarisation has meant that contemporary societies are becoming more unequal. These crises threaten to overturn well-established theoretical frameworks, approaches and categories, which also deeply affects education and the production of knowledge. This upheaval both challenges us and presents opportunities for rethinking approaches to education.

This conference, organised in partnership between the Global Alliance for Justice Education, the International Journal of Clinical Legal Education and the Association for Canadian Clinical Legal Education, provided a platform to discuss current challenges, the extent to which they can be turned into opportunities and practical ways forward. It offered an important forum for connecting with and being inspired by a broad diversity of legal justice educators from all over the world. It provided a unique platform for sharing innovative approaches and research on educational methods promoting students’ engagement, diversity and social justice.

The event took place from 16-18 June 2021 and was hosted by Northumberland University. It was one of Venues at Northumbria's largest virtual events, welcoming over 450 attendees from around the world over 3 days, for this annual clinical legal education conference.. Rebecca Samaras spoke during the ‘Theorising Practice, Working with Professional Transitions’ Symposium.