Vienna Law Clinics

At university, jurists acquire theoretical knowledge. At the Law Clinic, they can test their knowledge against practice – and be at the same time useful to others. Institutionalised professional support by law firms guarantees the quality of such legal counselling while a contribution to the common good is made. Practical components of teaching law have so far been largely ignored by Austria’s academia. May the University of Vienna innovate and integrate some law clinic-like practical training into its teaching programme. Students of law will then have much more opportunity during training to confront their future social responsibility, and to realise how unequal access to the law is distributed in society.