Digital tools as a factor in increasing the efficiency of legal clinics in modern conditions

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive study of digital tools as a key factor in the transformation and efficiency of legal clinics in modern conditions. The relevance of the topic is due to the need to adapt clinical legal education to the challenges of martial law, the remote learning format, and the national strategy for the digitalization of the legal sphere. The author analyzes information technologies not only as technical means but as a fundamental basis for ensuring the viability of the institute of legal clinics and expanding citizens’ access to justice.
Within the scope of the study, special attention is paid to the analysis of the advanced experience of the European Union countries, in particular Germany and Poland. Using the example of these countries, it is shown how the implementation of internal databases, systems of double control (supervision), and specialized software for checking the uniqueness of texts allows for minimizing the risks of violation of professional ethics and academic integrity. It has been proven that the digital transparency of case management contributes to a responsible attitude of higher education seekers towards their duties and guarantees a high level of protection of clients’ personal data.
The potential of digital solutions in volunteer and public legal education activities (Street-law) is separately highlighted. It is substantiated that the transition to multimedia formats for providing legal information – creating infographics, video instructions, and using interactive platforms – allows legal clinics to go beyond local counseling and interact with the audience on a global scale. It is concluded that the systemic integration of digital tools into the daily practice of legal clinics is an indispensable condition for training competitive lawyers and strengthening the legal capacity of territorial communities in a digital society.