University-Based Legal Clinics as Engines of Access to Justice in Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX), Philippines: A Comparative Study of Clinical Legal Education Models

Roberto Rivero , Lesley Ann Atilano and Frede Moreno

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: This study examines university-based legal clinics in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines, as engines of access to justice and experiential legal education. It compares clinical legal education models at six institutions—Andres Bonifacio Colleges, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, J.H. Cerilles State College, Jose Rizal Memorial State University, Saint Columban College, and Western Mindanao State University—between 2019 and 2024. Using publicly available data, CLEP directories, and institutional sources, the study analyzes clinic structures, student engagement, service delivery, and community impact. Findings reveal variability in documentation, program implementation, and outreach. Clinics at ABC, AdZU, and WMSU demonstrate structured engagement through client consultations, legal drafting, and community education aligned with CLEP requirements. Less documented clinics show limited visibility and service tracking, highlighting gaps in reporting and institutional support. Student involvement ranges from 8 to 40 participants per clinic, with weekly engagement between two and seven hours, contributing to practical legal competencies. Case output trends indicate incremental increases, with WMSU recording the highest volume of client services. The study concludes that university clinics enhance access to justice, strengthen experiential learning, and support marginalized communities, while emphasizing the need for standardized reporting, resource allocation, and regional collaboration. Policy and institutional strategies can optimize clinic outputs and ensure sustainable CLEP implementation in the region.

Keywords: clinical legal education; access to justice; experiential learning; Philippines; legal clinics; CLEP (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I0 I00 I2 I20 I21 I26 I28 I29 K00 K10 K19 K20 K23 K29 K3 K30 K39 K40 K49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-01-07
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/127615/1/MPRA_paper_127615.pdf original version (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pra:mprapa:127615

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany Ludwigstraße 33, D-80539 Munich, Germany. Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Joachim Winter ().