Strengthening Competencies and Skills through Legal Clinics

A Case Study of the FGV São Paulo Law School’s Copyright Clinics

Abstract

Legal Clinics offer students hands-on professional practice in various areas, developing skills in negotiation, strategy formulation, ethical decision-making, teamwork, and legal document drafting. At FGV São Paulo Law School, these clinics are part of the mandatory undergraduate curriculum, offered in the seventh and eighth semesters. This article analyzes the impact of Copyright Legal Clinics, facilitated by the authors for three years, through a student-centred survey. The survey, based on CEPI's research, evaluates competencies and skills expected of future lawyers amid technological and social changes, categorized into "legal," "management," "technological," and "socio-emotional" areas. The findings highlight the strengths and weaknesses of this methodology in preparing students for legal practice beyond theoretical knowledge, although students had little time to reflect on the dynamics of self-organization, as the focus of the clinic was on their training and client service. It is important to highlight the significance of the social aspect of the Clinics in raising students' awareness of the importance of memory institutions and the representation of the Clinics, as a significant departure from traditional doctrinal teaching prevalent in Brazil and Latin America. This discussion aims to contribute to the evolution of legal education, particularly in Latin America, emphasizing the importance of practical, innovative teaching methods.