BABSEACLE

The University of Queensland law students revisited the Wildflower Home Foundation on Thursday, December 12th, 2024, and provided community legal education on workers' rights and pregnancy to young single mothers to improve legal literacy by promoting the understanding of the law and building greater confidence in knowing their legal rights. The students used planned methods such as engaging and interactive lectures, group discussions, role plays, and gestures to simplify complex legal issues and make them relevant to the everyday experiences of the single-mother participants. A range of topics were addressed, from basic workers' rights under the Thai Labor Protection Act of 1998 (B.E. 2541) to specific rights for women workers, including pregnant women, along with practical skills for managing employment relationships. After the community legal education session, the students worked together, helping in their efforts, and sweated to clean up the children's play area at the site, which will, in the near future, be transformed into a children's learning center. #Externship #CommunityLegalEducation

The University of Queensland law students participated in the Mock Sentencing Hearing on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 11th, 2024, at the Faculty of Law of Chiang Mai University, where a simulated courtroom setting was created to introduce students to the judicial system, legal processes, and courtroom procedures. Meanwhile, students from the Faculty of Law of Chiang Mai University observed and learned from the statements presented by the prosecution and defence, as well as from the fair and appropriate sentencing decision imposed by the presiding judge and associate judges, enacted by Daisy-May Carty Cowling, Senior Family Violence Lawyer at Victoria Legal Aid, and UQ law students, respectively. The hypothetical legal case scenario at the sentencing stage, including the applicable law and witnesses' backgrounds for the prosecution/defence related to gender-based violence against LGBTQI+, developed by previous July externs from Australian universities, was selected for students' use in the hearing. UQ law students played the roles of lawyers and witnesses as they prepared and delivered arguments on both sides of the hypothetical legal case, representing their clients’ wishes while balancing the consideration of aggravating and mitigating factors in front of the panel of judges. The sentencing process was demonstrated to all students as part of a collaborative learning experience to help them gain an appreciation of the important role of sentencing in upholding fairness in our criminal justice system, reducing crime, and making society change for the better. #Externship #MockSentencingHearing #FairTrials #GenderBasedViolence

A group of law students from The University of Queensland visited the Faculty of Law of Chiang Mai University and the Faculty's Legal Clinic on Wednesday, December 11th, 2024. This visit was part of the two-week International Legal Studies Externship Program, jointly organized by BABSEACLE and The University of Queensland. The delegation met with the Dean of the Faculty, Assistant Professor Dr. Chainarong Luengvilai, and the Head of the Legal Clinic, Assistant Professor Sutasinee Supa, as well as law students at the Faculty. The visit included a series of activities, including presentations on clinical legal education, legal aid, and pro bono initiatives led by the Faculty's Legal Clinic, along with exchanges of experience among students from both universities related to legal services for vulnerable people in communities. What a privilege it was to witness the vitally important work of the faculty, academics, and students. Thank you, truly, to all of you for what you do to improve access to justice for everyone in society. #Externship

The 2024 December International Legal Studies Externship Program, jointly organized by BABSEACLE and The University of Queensland, provided law students with the opportunity to engage with marginalized communities in Chiang Mai, Thailand, through meaningful community teaching, while building a cross-cultural understanding of the societal impact of legal work and nurturing essential skills for their future legal careers. On Friday, December 6, 2024, the UQ students stepped into the realm of community engagement, teaching a women's self-empowerment lesson at the Wildflower Home Foundation for single mothers and young girls to develop a better understanding of themselves and their skills, their ability to determine their own choices, and discover their potential—not only their present selves but also their future selves. We are deeply grateful to the Wildflower Home Foundation for this collaboration. Their support in providing a space for community engagement enables law students to bridge the gap between law in theory and in action, expanding their legal knowledge and practical skills and cultivating a deep sense of social consciousness and empathy within communities. #Externship

On the morning of 4th December 2024, a group of law students from The University of Queensland visited the Chiang Mai Provincial Court, where they met with the Honourable Chief Judge Wiwat Komoltri and court officers. The trip was part of the two-week International Legal Externship Program, jointly organized by BABSEACLE and The University of Queensland.   The Honourable Wiwat Komoltri welcomed the students and shared deeper insights into the legal system of Thailand and the role of the court in achieving a fair and impartial judiciary while upholding the rule of law and justice in society. He continued, emphasizing the important aspect of securing protection for judges and others in acting judicially, to assist them in taking steps to protect themselves, as a reflection for the students on their legal path. Moreover, Judge Methanon Prapakorn, addressed the process of becoming a court judge in Thailand, as well as the landscape of free legal assistance provided by Thai courts, giving the students a well-rounded view of the judicial system in Thailand. Afterwards, the students had the opportunity to observe direct examinations in a cybercrime trial. This visit helped them to put their learning into the context of transnational law and international legal perspectives. We extend our thanks to all the judges and court officers whose generosity and support made this visit possible for the UQ law students – it was truly an enriching experience for them. #Externship

Twelve UQ law students had the opportunity to visit the Vocational Training Center of Chiang Mai Women's Correctional Institution on the morning of Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024. This visit provided a firsthand look at the history of both the correctional institution and vocational training center, the prison environment, and the realities of imprisonment. The students explored progressive rehabilitation initiatives and various career and upskilling programs designed to prepare women prisoners for reintegration into society. They witnessed the dedication and commitment of the staff in prioritizing the welfare of the vulnerable, empowering women in prison, broadening access to education, and helping these women acquire skills in preparation for their release. We would like to thank all the Vocational Training Center officers for the tremendous work you do and for making our visit possible. #Externship

Save the Date: 3rd Asia CLE Conference Gets New Dates and Venue – Call for Presentations Open! We are thrilled to announce that the 3rd Asia Clinical Legal Education Conference will now take place from 23–25 May 2025 in the culturally rich and scenic city of Chiang Mai, Thailand. We look forward to welcoming you to Chiang Mai for another memorable and insightful conference experience! The 3rd Asia Clinical Legal Education Conference will expand on the exploration of dynamic and recent trends in clinical legal education in Asia, and potentially other regions of the world, focusing on improving access to justice for communities, as well as local, international, and transnational collaboration within legal education—the extent to which these can be transformed into actionable opportunities and ways forward. The conference will bring together justice educators, lawyers, practitioners, policymakers, law students, representatives from for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, and stakeholders of clinical legal education to share experiences, best practices, foster sustainable movements, and forge new collaborations. Information on conference registration will be available soon. Call for Presentations We seek proposals from academics, lawyers, students, judges, government officials, NGO activists, and stakeholders involved in clinical legal education around the world, who are interested in organizing a 60-minute or 90-minute interactive session on a relevant topic related to the themes outlined on the conference website. The call for presentations is open until February 14th, 2025. All proposals must be submitted through the submission system of the Conference website which can be accessed via the link: https://lnkd.in/gcaMAJVw #ClinicalLegalEducation #CLE #LawClinics #AccessToJustice #ProBono

BABSEACLE is thrilled to continue its 20th year of running the successful International Legal Studies Externship Program, which began in Cambodia in 2004. Since its inception, the program has been involved in hosting and placing legal studies and other students throughout Asia, globally, and virtually. This December, following the externship with students from Australian universities in July, we are honored to host a new group of twelve students from The University of Queensland.   The December externship placement program, jointly organized by BABSEACLE and The University of Queensland, and funded through the Australian Government's New Colombo Plan (NCP), is currently taking place from the 2nd to the 14th of December 2024 in the northern capital of Thailand. The program focuses on intensive, access-to-justice-related work and cultural experiences.   The program began with a dynamic full-day orientation on the first day of the placement. The BABSEACLE Chiang Mai team warmly welcomed the students, introduced the background of our not-for-profit organization, and provided them with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the justice education and access-to-justice initiatives we do.   Jeffrey Leukel from the 18th Circuit Public Defenders Office, Florida, as well as Daisy-May Carty Cowling from Victoria Legal Aid, shared invaluable insights from their personal experiences within the legal profession and shined a light on the terrific access to justice work being done in their jurisdictions, inspiring both the students and us in meaningful ways.   Furthermore, Leni Mulyani from Pasundan University, guided students through CLE community teaching, teaching tips, lesson plan development, and an inspiring story of Pasundan’s CLE program, empowering students to apply this knowledge in community teaching with marginalized communities.   The externship program is aimed to provide hands-on experience outside the classroom, broaden students' understanding of diverse legal systems in Asia, strengthen cultural competence and communication skills, foster interactions with local justice organizations, and enhance students' ability to contribute to justice work and to make a lasting impact in the Asia region. #Externship #LegalStudies #ClinicalLegalEducation #AccessToJustice

Reflecting on the power of theater in raising awareness about access to justice and gender-based violence. The annual Justice Play of 'Hangman' by the Gate Theater Group, in partnership with BABSEACLE and Legal House Thailand, concluded its run on November 30, 2024. This production challenged perceptions of justice and highlighted critical issues of gender-based violence, sparking important discussions through post-show forums. A huge thanks to Daisy-May Carty Cowling and Jeff Leukel for facilitating the discussion and all who attended and supported this meaningful initiative. #16DaysofActivism #EndGBV #AccessToJustice"

BABSEACLE hosted the Asia Fair Trial Practices Roundtable, titled ‘Ensuring Fair Trial Practices for Juveniles’, on Thursday, November 28th, 2024. The roundtable brought together over 50 practicing lawyers, including university academics, law students, and representatives from for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, to explore effective strategies for ensuring legal proceedings are fair, protect the rights of juveniles, and prioritize the well-being and development of young individuals. Jane Sanders from the Shopfront Youth Legal Centre discussed a foundational issue related to fair trials and juveniles: the right to counsel or legal representation, stressing that this right for children must be ensured—they must have the opportunity to receive free legal assistance, know where to access it, and have some choices in the matter, taking into account their vulnerability and other issues such as confessions, pretrial detention, speedy trial, and the need for assistance in the trial process with intermediaries. Kate Flower from the Centre for Law and Transformative Change spoke about Cambodia’s legal history and the challenges in ensuring fair trial rights for juveniles. She emphasized progress in recognizing the developmental needs of young people in the justice system, marking a shift toward a more humane, rehabilitative approach. She also highlighted community involvement, social services, and NGO interventions, showcasing a range of locally-led initiatives, such as the child justice network and its diversion program, along with trial monitoring, and policy dialogue with the government. James Hsiao and Stephanie Zhao from White & Case discussed juvenile representation models: direct representation, where the child is treated as a client with confidentiality and instructions, and the best interest model, where the representative advocates based on the child’s best interests. They presented case studies to help participants understand the considerations in choosing between these two approaches. Nan Sandar Aye from IBJ Myanmar broadened participants' understanding of working with juveniles in Myanmar, particularly those involved in drug offenses. She discussed specific challenges related to these cases, including the need for proper evidence, appropriate drug possession charges to ensure greater rights and protections, as well as fair trials for people who use drugs. This roundtable would not have been possible without the support of our speakers, facilitator, and participants. Thank you for making it such an enriching experience and for your commitment to advancing fair and effective justice systems for juveniles worldwide. Together, we are making a positive impact! #FairTrials #JuvenileJustice #RuleOfLaw #AccessToJustice