08.20.2007

The University of Pristina Law Faculty Legal Clinic completed its fourth semester with fifty students successfully finishing the course and earning certificates.

This time the semester ended with the students conducting several mock trials in Pristina District Court.  The trials were observed by representatives of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Rule of Law Initiative in Kosovo, Law Faculty members, and practicing experts. The first trial was covered by a national television station, which emphasized the faculty’s move toward reform and incorporating practical skill-building courses into the curriculum.

The Criminal Section of the legal clinic conducted mock trials in two criminal cases: the first, a murder case—where the students played the roles of all the parties involved including a panel of judges, advocates and prosecutors, the principal defendant accused of murdering his girlfriend, and two co-perpetrators who were hiding the facts (the panel of judges sentenced all three defendants to imprisonment); the second, a theft case involving a juvenile who, according to the testimony, broke a car and stole a radio from the damaged party who caught him in action.

The Civil Section of the clinic conducted three cases. The first case was a property dispute where a claimant won his right to own the disputed property based on the statute of limitation. In the second case involving permission to marry a minor, the judges, after hearing the arguments of both parties and the parents, concluded that the couple did not meet the conditions of entering into marriage. And the last, a divorce and child-custody hearing, was held after the prior attempt for reconciliation had not worked. The couple with two children were divorced, and the father received custody of the children lied with the father since his financial situation was more sound than the mother’s, among other reasons.

The legal clinic emphasizes teaching law students practical skills that prepare them for the practice of law.  The legal clinic provides a combination of in-class lectures, assignments and practical experiences with legal professionals including lawyers, judges and prosecutors. Course and practical work involves exercises in legal research and analysis; identifying factual and legal issues; problem solving; interviewing and counseling clients; and formulating relevant legal theories.

For more information please contact Vjosa Hasanaj at vhasanaj@ceelikosovo.org