Adrian Evans et al, Australian Clinical Legal Education

Of particular interest in this book is the chapter “The Importance of Effective Supervision”. This chapter considers the changing dynamics of supervision in law firms and the key supervision issues facing clinical programs. It focuses on important supervision dimensions, which include: enhancing quality, accuracy, and timeliness of tasks; mentoring junior staff; fostering awareness of ethical and client-focused practices; identifying and supporting staff who develop a mental illness; fostering resilience; and promoting long-term practices.

This Chapter sets out key issues in clinical supervision, including inadequate supervision ratios, the variable nature of student relationships, and online supervision. It ends by setting out a basic guide for supervisors working with students in a clinic context.

Law schools need to provide external supervisors with advice on what constitutes effective supervision of students and frameworks to implement the same. It indicates that supervision involves varying dimensions, including enhancing the quality – accuracy, timeliness, value for money, ethical soundness and suitability for the task; mentoring junior staff; fostering awareness of ethical and client-focused practices; identifying and supporting staff who develop a mental illness; fostering resilience; promoting work practices that are sustainable in the long term; and fostering critical analysis of the law and the legal system.

Furthermore, this chapter sets out guidance for supervisors in balancing the interests of their organization and their duties to clients along with the interests of their students. The basic framework includes understanding the program, communicating clearly (i.e., listening carefully and encouraging students to explain their views, providing specific feedback and be candid and constructive), be sensitive (i.e., modelling an inclusive approach), be collaborative, plan for student development, and be accountable (i.e., elaborate on your views on the standard of student work and encourage students to be accountable).

Adrian Evans et al, Australian Clinical Legal Education (Australia: ANU Press, 2017) at 123-52.