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Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Street Law and over

50 years of Clinical Legal Education: Transformative tools for social justice

Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) in partnership with South African University Law Clinics Association (SAULCA) and University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) School of Law

CLEA
SAULCA

Venue: School of Law, Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban South Africa

Date:

25 - 28 September 2025

Call for Abstracts

About

August 2025 is the 40th Anniversary of the first International Street Law Workshop, and the 52nd Anniversary of the Legal Aid Conference that led to the expansion of Clinical Legal Education in South Africa, both of which were organized by the then University of Natal, Durban. The Street Law workshop went on to inspire the adoption of Street Law programmes in over 45 countries. The first law clinic in South Africa was established by University of Cape Town law students in 1972. The second was established at the University of the Witwatersrand in April 1973 and the third, inspired by the Legal Aid Conference, at the University of Natal, Durban, in August 1973.

 Since this time, Clinical legal Education has spread throughout Southern Africa and beyond, and the South African experience has been shared in more than 60 countries. This is the basis of the pedagogy used to equip final year Law students with appropriate and necessary skills for legal practice, as well as provide access to justice to the most vulnerable and marginalized members of society.

This conference will provide an opportunity to academics, clinicians and practitioners to reflect on the strides made in engaging Law students and diverse communities on contemporary challenges in access to justice and the attainment of equality. Conference delegates will also innovatively consider collaborative methods in traversing the current clinical challenges facing university-based law clinics in South Africa.

This anniversary conference has been structured in three parts:

Thursday, 25th – Friday, 26th September 2025: CLEA International Conference

The CLEA International Conference is convened in partnership with SAULCA and the UKZN School of Law. It will provide a platform for international and regional participants to present papers and showcase their approaches to Street Law and Clinical Legal Education, in addressing social injustices in their contexts. Participants will be encouraged to share strategies for community engagement and policy advocacy, and insights into how they have integrated Street Law, Clinical Legal Education and community engagement in their legal education interventions.

Saturday, 27th – Sunday, 28th September 2025: Street Law/Clinical Legal Education training workshop

This platform is open to all interested stakeholders seeking to adopt Street Law and Clinical Legal Education programmes and integrate these in their legal education and community advocacy work. Expert facilitators from CLEA, SAULCA and Global Allowance of Justice Education (GAJE) networks will run workshops demonstrating Street Law and Clinical Legal Education methodology, showcasing the design of curricula and lesson plans, teaching methodologies and evaluation mechanisms.

Saturday, 27th – Sunday, 28th September 2025: Partner stakeholder engagements

  •  Indo-South African Legal Forum : This will run parallel to the Street Law and Clinical Legal Education training workshop, for Indian and South African CLEA stakeholders to engage.
  • SAULCA AGM: This will run parallel to the Street Law and Clinical Legal Education training workshop, to permit  SAULCA members to engage with the professional affairs of their association, in terms of their Constitution.

 


Retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo

Retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo

Advocate Mohamed Shafie Ameermia

Advocate Mohamed Shafie Ameermia

National Director: ProBono.Org

Call for abstracts

Interactive sessions and paper presentations are welcome on the proposed themes outlined below. Abstracts for suggested interactive sessions and envisaged papers should be uploaded to the on the submit abstract link below by 7 July 2025. Abstracts should be no longer than 500 words.

We encourage early submissions to assist the organising committee in structuring the conference to accommodate the nature and number of workshops and presentations, and design an engaging programme.

We invite participants to submit abstracts that speak to the following suggested themes and topics:

  • Teaching human rights in a hostile environment – challenges and mitigating strategies
  • Teaching human rights in established democracies – responding to democratic deficits, threats to democracy and persistent inequality and injustice
  • Embedding social justice and community engagement in legal education through Street Law and Clinical Legal Education – teaching, learning and assessment approaches
  • Access to justice and justice delivery – the role of Law schools and university Law clinics in ensuring accessing to justice
  • Addressing marginalisation and exclusion through Street Law and Clinical Legal Education – connecting students and universities with marginalised communities, social justice and legal advocacy
  • The Value of using AI – digital platforms and tools available to enhance Clinical Legal Education and advocacy
  • Professional identity formation of law students through Street Law and Clinical Legal Education
  • Pedagogy and theoretical underpinnings informing and embedding community engagement in Clinical Legal Education
  • Student session – Student presentations on how Street Law and Clinical Legal Education help students to better understand the concept of social justice
  • Best practices in Clinical Legal Education from different jurisdictions, and the formulation of a Model Module for Commonwealth Law Schools
  • Embedding Clinical Legal Education as a methodology in substantive and procedural law courses across law school curricula

The organising committee is arranging with a local publisher to publish a special edition of selected papers presented at the conference. Authors of articles not selected for publication in the Conference Papers publication may consider submitting them to relevant law journals for publication.

Registration

Registration fee for conference participants is structured as follows:
  • US$100 for participants from developed countries
  • US$50 for participants from developing countries
  • Free attendance for student presenters
  • Bursary – the organising committee is sourcing funds to make bursaries available for a limited number of participants
Register Now

Banking Details

For payments from South African bank accounts

Name of accountholder: UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL

Account number: 053080998

Account type: BUSINESS CURRENT ACCOUNT

Branch code: 045426

Branch code (electronic payments): 051001

SWIFT address: SBZA ZA JJ

Reference: LG37-11817 + YOUR SURNAME

Email Proof of Payment to: Clea.conference2025@UKZN.ac.za

For payments from international bank accounts

Name of accountholder: UKZN FOREIGN DEPOSIT

Account number: 053082826

Account type: BUSINESS CURRENT ACCOUNT

Branch code: 045426

Branch code (electronic payments): 051001 

SWIFT address: SBZA ZA JJ

Reference LG37-11817 + YOUR SURNAME

Email Proof of Payment to Clea.conference2025@UKZN.ac.za

Accommodation

Southern Sun Elangeni Maharani

Southern Sun Elangeni Maharani

This iconic hotel in Durban is located just meters from Durban’s main beaches on the 7km promenade and close to uShaka Marine World, the city centre and Moses Mabhida Stadium with 734 stylish and modern rooms. The hotel offers a choice of restaurants and bars with two breakfast rooms providing full English breakfast. There are three swimming pools – 1 sea facing pool and 2 family friendly pools great for the afternoon sun. 

  • Single, bed and breakfast, per night, per room (1 guest) R 1595.00 
  • Sharing, bed and breakfast, per night, per room (2 guests) R 1845.00
Book Now
The Edward Hotel

The Edward Hotel

Ideally situated on Durban’s iconic Golden Mile overlooking the Indian Ocean, The Edward hotel offers location-convenience whether you’re here for leisure or for business. Moments from uShaka Marine World and the Durban ICC, you can experience the best of Durban during your stay at The Edward. 

With a history stretching back more than 100 years, this famous Art Deco style hotel welcomes guests to experience legendary Golden Mile accommodation. A choice of 131 well-appointed and comfortably furnished rooms are complete with a wide range of exceptional amenities, ensuring a relaxing and enjoyable stay. The Brasserie Restaurant serves a daily breakfast buffet of full English and Continental favourites, an a la carte lunch and dinner menu, and a delicious buffet on select nights. Experience contemporary global dining and make the most of the Durban sunshine with an ice-cold beer, sundowner cocktail, or G&T while relaxing in the bar & lounge or on the terrace. 

  • Single, bed and breakfast, per night, per room (1 guest) R 1550.00 
  • Sharing, bed and breakfast, per night, per room (2 guests) R 1850.00 
Book Now
Garden Court Marine Parade

The Garden Court Marine Parade

The hotel is within easy reach of Durban’s golden beaches and is an ideal springboard from which to explore the many attractions of Durban and its surrounds. The stylish and modern accommodation includes a choice of 352 newly refurbished spacious and comfortably appointed sea-facing rooms. Individually controlled air conditioning, in- room tea and coffee facilities, TV with selected DStv channels and a host of amenities are on offer, while smoking and wheelchair accessible rooms are available on request. Soak in the Golden Mile views from the rooftop pool and head to Peppa Restaurant for breakfast or dinner.  

  • Single, bed and breakfast, per night, per room (1 guest) R 1395.00 
  • Sharing, bed and breakfast, per night, per room (2 guests) R 1745.00 
Book Now
Coastlands Hotel Musgrave

Coastlands Hotel Musgrave

With beautiful views of Durban, distant views of the Indian Ocean and Durban Harbour from the Upper Floor Deluxe Rooms, this modern, 4-star hotel boasting 101 bedrooms is situated on the ridge of Musgrave’s popular Ridge road. The Deluxe Rooms offer magnificent garden, partial city, sea and harbour views from their private balconies, whilst the Standard Rooms are situated at the back of the hotel with access to a communal verandah that offers views of the immediate surroundings. A large variety of breakfast dishes are available in 315 Restaurant which is situated on the ground floor of the hotel. 

  • Single, bed and breakfast, per night, per room (1 guest) R 1450.00 
  • Sharing, bed and breakfast, per night, per room (2 guests) R 1750.00 
Book Now
SICAS Guest House-Musgrave

Sicas Guest House

Sica’s Guest House, originally an 1886 farmhouse, is nestled on 3 acres of land and offers 50 bedrooms and 5 function venues. This guesthouse is situated just far enough away from the city’s CBD hustle and bustle on Durban’s prime Berea, but with easy access to beaches, shopping malls, stadiums and the University of KwaZulu Natal. 

The rates will be as follows: 

  • Single – R1200.00 per night B&B 
  • Double – R1540.00 per room per night B&B (R770.00 p.p.s) 
Book Now
EZ Shuttle

EZ Shuttle

EZ Shuttle (pronounced Easy Shuttle) is a leading corporate and leisure passenger transfer provider in South Africa. It has a wide network of branches (10 cities), 100% safety record and a record number of more than two million transfers completed over 16 years.  

Online bookings for airport transfers and transfers from the various hotels to campus will be available from Mid-April on the website via a link.  

Sponsors

LexisNexis
Oxford University Press
Juta