ANSWERING LEGAL ISSUES THAT DEVELOPED IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF STREET LAW CLINIC METHOD

 The Higher Education of Law in Indonesia

In the higher education environment, Indonesian education is currently directed to be competencies oriented that needed by the workforce or the business world. Students must be equipped with the skills needed in accordance with the times. At this time, learning in the classroom is deemed insufficient because it can only provide substantive knowledge to the students. Today’s college curriculum (especially Faculty of Law) is demanded to be able to provide opportunities for students to practice applying what they know in the lecture room.

The condition of Law Education in Indonesia has gained attention from society, especially law graduates who are considered less able to practice their knowledge in the world of work. This is of course related to the legal education system in the Faculties of Law in Indonesia. This education system is related to the methods used in the teaching and learning process. Lectures in general still use the conventional method of direct lectures in order to transfer knowledge to their students. The method certainly has an impact on the ineffective teaching and learning process, therefore it causing the lack of student’s ability to understand legal materials and they are unable to apply their knowledge to resolve legal issues that develop in the society.

Clinical Legal Education in Faculty of Law

Critics about the legal education, in several Faculty of Law in Indonesia, is answered with the application of Clinical Legal Education. Clinical Legal Education is a perspective in legal education that views that in the legal education curriculum it is important to have opportunities for learning about knowledge, skills, and values in practicing law. Clinical Legal Education not only prepares the students to be skilled in law practice, but also to think critically and take responsibility for their actions.  In carrying out the duties and functions in higher education as stipulated in the National Education System law, the development of learning methods is one of the duties and responsibilities of lecturers who enter the education segment within the Tri Dharma frame of higher education.

Clinical Legal Education itself is a form of developing interactive-reflective learning methods that are interesting to develop. This Clinical Legal Education is part of the application of the Student Center Learning Method (SCL), where the students are expected to be active and able to develop knowledge and skills by directly contributing to the learning process. In the implementation of the Clinical Legal Education, there are 3 (three) stages that have to be passed, namely planning component, experiential component and reflection component. The learning methods/models that have been used in the Faculty of Law including: In House Clinic, Out House Clinic, Combination and Street Law Clinic.

Street Law Clinic as one of the Method to Implementing Clinical Legal Education

One form of legal development is by the renewal of various methods that can be used to spread benefits to the wider community is in the form of legal counseling or known as the Street Law Clinic model. In this activity, The Students will be assigned directly as counselors who play an active role. This model is usually chosen as the final part of developing clinical learning after the issue has been determined and other clinical implementation methods/models have been implemented.

Up to the present, the form of the implementation of Street Law Clinic which is carried out by the Faculty of Law in general is still in the form of conventional Street Law that is temporary (one-off) using the issues specified in each semester. This model will certainly be less effective and less able to provide benefits if it is not accompanied by conducting preliminary research and including providing periodic assistance until the target/ultimate goal of the implementation is achieved. The implementation model certainly requires development to achieve greater goals both for developing the capabilities and responsibilities of clinical students as well as broadening the benefits that should be able to be given to the community.

Ideal Model to Develop Street Law Clinic

Based on the research and direct experience carried out by the author in developing the Street Law Clinic model, this model will be able to provide maximum benefit in answering legal issues in the community, if it is wrapped comprehensively with attractive activity designs and measurable targets.

The ideal model for the implementation of the Street Law Clinic model that can be offered by the author is divided into 3 (three) stages which are, Pre-implementation phase includes: meeting and finalizing the concept with the clinical teaching team, determining the Street Law Clinic issue to be held at least in 2 (two) semesters clinical lectures, meeting and preparation of collaborative agreements with clinical partners, explanation of the Street Law Clinic model for the students of clinical legal education, coordination and application for permission at the implementation site, preparation of questionnaires, compilation of power points and posters as media for counseling. Implementation stages include: the distribution of questionnaires (research introduction), the implementation of counseling, provision of supporting facilities and the post-implementation phase includes; evaluation of the implementation and periodic assistance.