Professional competencies developed in legal clinics: Perspectives from educational stakeholders

University legal clinics allow law students to apply their knowledge in real situations. The objective of this research is to analyze the pedagogical impact of the free legal clinics of the National University of Chimborazo on professional competencies through the perceptions of the individuals engaged in the teaching process. A mixed approach was applied, including statistical analysis of student and graduate surveys, as well as interviews with educational authorities. The results of a survey of 80 students reveal that the majority perceive significant development in skills such as legal research, problem analysis, argumentation and professional ethics. However, management stresses the im-portance of having clear metrics to evaluate progress in specific skills. In addition, they identify challenges related to the lack of resources and the need to strengthen strategic alliances, which limits their pedagogical and social impact.

Keywords:
legal education; legal clinic; teaching; competence; situated learning