Teaching Young Namibian Lawyers Practical Legal Skills

In 2010, a team of New Perimeter lawyers delivered practical legal training to current law students and recent law school graduates at the University of Namibia’s Legal Aid Clinic (“the Clinic”) and the Namibia Justice Training Centre (JTC). The Clinic assigns Namibian law students to represent indigent clients. The JTC is a government-mandated course of study all new Namibian lawyers must complete before they are certified to practice law. The curriculum assists Namibian law graduates in their transition from candidate positions (akin to legal internships) to actual practice and is a critical component in preparing Namibian lawyers for the practice of law. The legal skills training presented by New Perimeter lawyers included topics such as legal drafting, professional ethics, and the practical elements of criminal and civil procedure (including interviewing, case management, witness preparation, pleadings practice, and oral advocacy skills).