Legal Aid Clinic

The primary objective of this Clinic is to provide students with practical exposure to the everyday aspects of criminal practice. It aims to offer hands-on experience to students interested in this area, helping them make informed career choices upon graduating from the Law School.

This Clinic is a specialized component within the Legal Aid Clinic and is exclusively open to Year II students at the Law School. Each year, approximately 48 students have the opportunity to participate, with approximately twenty-four in the First Term Clinic and an equal number in the Second Term Clinic. Coordination of this Clinic is overseen by Ms. Hasine Shaikh from the Legal Aid & Advisory Authority and Mr. Daniel Khan from Justitia Omnibus, Attorneys-at-Law.

This Clinic operates for a duration of 10 to 12 weeks, with participants meeting weekly for 3-hour sessions. It includes on-site visits to the Court Registries of the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court, the Criminal Division in the Hall of Justice, the Assizes, and the Court of Appeal. During these visits, students interact with experienced personnel who provide insights into the workings of each registry, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of the legal system.

Students are assigned, whenever possible, to actual trial cases. They are responsible for attending client interviews, taking statements, visiting prisons, assisting in the preparation and filing of necessary documents, and making valuable contributions throughout the case’s preparation and during its hearings. Each student is expected to participate in at least three cases.

At the end of the term, students undergo assessment, which includes a general group evaluation and individual meetings with the Coordinator. Assessment criteria encompass written work, reports, and feedback from the assigned practitioners.

This Clinic is designed to prepare participants for one of the most practical applications of civil procedure in the corporate world. Financial institutions often engage the services of attorneys to initiate actions for the recovery of debts secured by various legal instruments such as mortgages, promissory notes, bills of sale, credit card facilities, and more.

Conducted by experienced attorneys-at-law in Port of Spain, this Clinic runs for one term. Its primary objective is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how actions are initiated and progress in the pursuit of commercial debt recovery. Additionally, it focuses on the preparation of commercial contracts, debentures, and exposure to commercial matters in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

The Clinic spans 10 to 12 weeks, with participants meeting weekly for 3-hour sessions. It is designed to introduce participants to the practical aspects of billing and taxation of legal costs, an essential skill for recovering clients’ costs in litigation. Emphasizing the importance of client care and service, it ensures that students are well-equipped in this critical aspect of legal practice.

This Clinic is particularly recommended for students interested in a mixed legal practice, especially those seeking employment in law firms specializing in corporate banking law or handling trade receivables. At the end of the term, students are assessed based on established criteria that evaluate their work in this Clinic.

The primary goal of the Human Rights Law Clinic (HRLC) is to impart essential legal values, skills, and attitudes to students using a street law approach within the context of human rights education and advocacy. It is important to note that the Clinic does not teach substantive human rights law. While prior knowledge of human rights is not a prerequisite, individuals who have not previously studied this area of law, may need to engage in additional reading.

The HRLC’s overarching vision is to prepare participating students to educate the public about human rights issues and equip them to promote the respect of fundamental human rights and freedoms while advocating for social justice.

Assessment for participating students includes a diverse range of individual and group projects, including written, oral, and community-based assignments. The Clinic also places a strong emphasis on digital advocacy, and students will be expected to engage in online campaigns related to these projects. Students who have reservations about public speaking must be prepared to address and overcome this fear.

The HRLC is a highly practical and skills-oriented program, requiring a commitment of at least ten hours per week for coursework. Strict deadlines are established for the completion of various projects. This Clinic is facilitated by Mr. Jason Nathu, an Attorney-at-Law and Tutor at the Hugh Wooding Law School’s Legal Aid Clinic.

This Clinic specializes in various aspects of intellectual property law, including trademarks, patents, and industrial designs. Students involved in this clinic engage in activities such as examining trademarks, participating in oral hearings, and assisting in the development of legal practices, including the potential repeal and replacement of existing trademark legislation. Additionally, they work with patents and industrial designs, involving examination processes and providing guidance to local applicants on patent and industrial design filings.

Throughout their participation, students will conduct research and employ problem-solving techniques. Encouraging discussions with senior scientists and attorneys is integral to the Clinic’s approach, and students will also make presentations to small groups at the Intellectual Property Office.

This Clinic is led by Mr. Regan Asgarali and Mr. Richard Aching, both Attorneys-at-Law associated with the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

This innovative Clinic introduces students to the field of Child Advocacy, which is currently emerging within the Caribbean region. Many Caribbean territories are enacting legislation and striving to establish comprehensive legal and social service systems to safeguard children from abuse, neglect, and other forms of maltreatment. Furthermore, in line with the principles outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Caribbean nations are re-evaluating how children’s issues are addressed within existing legal frameworks, including family, criminal, adoption, and wardship proceedings. These efforts aim not only to prioritize the protection of children’s interests but also to acknowledge that children themselves have an independent role to play in proceedings that affect their lives.

Within this context, the Clinic’s objectives for students are as follows:

• To comprehend the legal and social framework surrounding children’s issues.
• To explore the current and potential roles of child advocates.
• To gain hands-on experience in cases involving children, with a primary focus on the child’s interests and perspective.
• To develop analytical and communication skills through involvement in a policy project related to the development of a child protection system.

Over the course of this 12-week Clinic, weekly classes delve into various aspects of children’s issues, encompassing how children should be represented in individual cases and the broader policy considerations involved in safeguarding children. Topics covered in this Clinic include the social context of parenting, childhood, and abuse in the West Indies; the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; child protection legislation; children’s issues within the family law context; children’s issues related to abuse and neglect; interviewing child clients; and the ethical responsibilities of attorneys representing children.

Initially, students in the Clinic will represent parents in custody matters, gaining essential skills such as client interviewing and affidavit drafting, all while critically considering the child’s perspective and best interests. As local child protection systems are implemented, the goal is for the Clinic to be appointed as child advocates in cases authorized under new legislation. Additionally, students collaborate with a government or non-governmental organization (NGO) on research or policy projects focused on child protection.

This Clinic is facilitated by Mrs. Zenobia Campbell-James, an Attorney-at-Law and Tutor at the Hugh Wooding Law School’s Legal Aid Clinic.

The Hugh Wooding Law School’s Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Clinic (HITEC) offers legal counsel and guidance to entrepreneurs, small businesses, and technology start-ups. HITEC’s mission extends to assisting with intellectual property concerns, providing guidance on business structures and incorporations, crafting or revising non-disclosure agreements and basic employment contracts, and offering advice on regulatory issues that could impact small businesses.

Students’ evaluations include both written projects and presentations covering legal matters stemming from innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology. Additionally, they may work on live cases periodically. This Clinic is facilitated by Mr. Jason Nathu, an Attorney-at-Law and Tutor at the Hugh Wooding Law School’s Legal Aid Clinic.

The Public Law Clinic aims to sensitize and train students in the continuously expanding and intriguing field of public law practice. Public law can be defined as the collection of legal principles governing the interaction between citizens and the State or public authorities during the execution of public functions. It encompasses various areas, including constitutional motions addressing breaches of fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as claims for judicial review of actions and decisions made by public bodies.

Students will be expected to engage in one or more of the following activities:

• Handling casework related to public law matters within the Clinic or in collaboration with practitioners in private practice and/or the State. This may involve client interviews, legal research, the preparation of legal opinions and other documents, as well as attendance at court hearings.
• Participating in a simulated or mock trial involving a public law case.
• Contributing to a public law education project, the specifics of which will be determined.

Upon completion of the term, students will undergo assessment based on their work, in accordance with the established assessment criteria of the Legal Aid Clinic. This Clinic is facilitated by Mr. Roshan Ramcharitar, an Attorney-at-Law and Tutor at the Hugh Wooding Law School’s Legal Aid Clinic.

The Construction Law Clinic will commence in January 2024 and aims to introduce, educate, and familiarize students of the law School with the field of Construction Law, specifically focusing on Dispute Resolution and Construction Contracts. This initiative is designed to ignite curiosity and foster the interest of aspiring practitioners in Construction Law, both at the local and regional levels. The program is open to 15 students and will be conducted by a team of experienced Engineering and Legal Practitioners, supplemented by visual aids and site visits to enhance the learning experience.

This Clinic is facilitated by Mr. Jerome Herrera, an Attorney-at-Law and Tutor at the Hugh Wooding Law School’s Legal Aid Clinic.

Peace Jurisdiction encompasses a blend of mediation, restorative justice, collaborative law, and therapeutic jurisprudence practices. It represents the legal process through which the concept of peace is pursued as an outcome that goes beyond merely resolving a dispute within the confines of the law. It acknowledges the crucial role that judges and attorneys play in fostering a conducive environment for positive, peaceful transformation in the lives of those in conflict. To achieve this, the law must be carefully scrutinized for its impact on the real-life circumstances of those involved in disputes, and legal procedures must engage collaboratively determined individual needs and objectives. The practice of ‘Lawyering’ and judging should be perceived as more humane, with peace jurisprudence serving as a foundation for community building and national development.

With this objective in mind, this Clinic aims to introduce students to the core principles of Peace Jurisprudence, thereby expanding their understanding of how the law can contribute to healing. The emphasis will be on achieving peaceful resolutions through legal applications and evolving the legal framework to offer a more compassionate response to the practical realities of human conflict. This Clinic is scheduled for the second term of law school and is ideally suited for students with prior exposure to mediation and conflict management theories. This Clinic is facilitated by the Honourable Mr. Justice Vasheist Kokaram J.A., Judge of the Court of Appeal of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Conveyancing Law Clinic is designed to sensitize and train students in various aspects of property conveyancing. Within this context, students will focus on a step-by-step procedure, commencing from the initial client interview and extending to the eventual transfer of ownership related to the property being conveyed. This process entails a thorough investigation of title, necessary inquiries, and searches conducted prior to the finalization of the contract, in addition to the critical completion dates. Furthermore, students will acquire skills in drafting Conveyancing Letters and preparing essential documents for transactions involving both leasehold and freehold land. The clinic will also cover the complexities of conveyancing for registered land and the procedure for regularizing land titles in accordance with the Real Property Act, Chapter 56:02.

Upon successful completion of this clinical program, students will be proficient in providing comprehensive advice regarding agreements for the sale of land, encompassing all preliminary and finalization matters. Additionally, students will possess the capability to identify and comprehend the various clauses typically found in basic deeds of Conveyance, Assent, Gift, or Memorandum of Transfer/Assent/Gift. They will demonstrate proficiency in drafting agreements for the sale of land and creating straightforward conveyances or memoranda, as well as adapting any precedent or form to precisely meet their clients’ unique requirements.

This Clinic is facilitated by Ms. Barbara Lodge-Johnson, an Attorney-at-Law and Tutor at the Hugh Wooding Law School’s Legal Aid Clinic.