The institutionalisation of community service and community service learning at South African tertiary institutions: with specific reference to the role of university law clinics

Abstract

In the light of the institutionalisation of community service-and service learning at South African tertiary institutions, it is necessary to evaluate the role of South African university law clinics within that framework. The article examines the definitions of community service and service learning and concludes that despite the commonalities between community service-and service learning and clinical legal education, they are separate teaching methodologies. The traditional ‘live- client’ model of clinical legal education, followed by most South African university law clinics, does however not comply with the institutional definitions of community service and service learning. The article highlights the differences but also demonstrates the commonalities between them. The article highlights community partnerships and reciprocity of learning and teaching as core requirements for community service and service learning programmes. In order to attract institutional support, it was necessary to re-evaluate the traditional role of university law clinics with the view of establishing whether true community service and service learning modules can be accommodated by university law clinics. The article concludes that university law clinics are indeed ideally positioned for the purpose and demonstrates this with reference to a community service programme that was included in a module on the law of evidence. The article finally concludes that community service and service learning may gainfully supplement clinical legal education programmes that will attract institutional financial support to ensure the sustainability of university law