A legal clinic is an interactive method of education where students learn by working on real cases. The emergence of legal clinics at law faculties around the world began as early as the 1960s, driven by the need to bring law students closer to the problems they will face as future lawyers. This development marked a significant shift in legal education, emphasizing experiential learning and providing students with practical experience while serving the legal needs of underserved communities. Legal clinics show positive results regarding achieving educational goals in higher education. Legal clinics are of paramount importance in achieving the social goal of providing crucial help to people from vulnerable categories who have legal problems but cannot afford professional help. The legal clinic of the Faculty of Law at the International Balkan University started working in August 2022.

ABOUT US

*Welcome to the Legal Clinic of the Faculty of Law!

At the Legal Clinic, we believe in the power of legal education to create meaningful change. Established to bridge the gap between theory and practice, our clinic provides students with a unique opportunity to experience the real-world application of their studies while serving the community.

*Our Mission

At our Legal Clinic, our mission is to provide accessible, high-quality legal support to underserved communities, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to navigate the complexities of the legal system with confidence. We strive to empower individuals by offering free legal services, tailored advice, and educational resources that promote legal literacy. By fostering a compassionate and inclusive environment, we aim to break down barriers and advocate for social justice; together, we work towards a fairer, more equitable society where justice is within reach.

*Primary Aims of Legal Clinic

- Legal aid: Serving a vital role in promoting access to justice, supporting vulnerable populations, enhancing legal education and pro bono work

- Practical Experience: Allowing law students to apply theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom to real-world legal issues

- Skill Development: Developing essential legal skills, such as legal research, writing, client interviewing, and negotiation which are critical for the future careers of the students

- Access to Justice: Providing pro bono legal services to underserved or disadvantaged populations, helping to address gaps in access to legal representation.

- Ethical Training: Learning professional responsibility, ethical considerations, and the importance of client confidentiality and advocacy

- Interdisciplinary Learning: Incorporating aspects of interdisciplinary learning, allowing students to engage with other fields such as social work, public policy, and health care, which can enrich their legal education

- Critical Thinking: Working on actual cases helps students enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they analyze complex legal issues and develop strategies.

HEAD OF LEGAL CLINIC

Asst. Prof. Dr. Ebru Ibish is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Law at the International Balkan University. She is a professor of criminal law and criminology. Dr. Ebru Ibish was born on August 27, 1991 in Skopje.

Dr. Ebru Ibish is a legal scholar specializing in criminal law. She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from South East European University in 2013. The same year, she pursued master's studies in criminal law at the Faculty of Law "Iustinianus Primus" at the University of St. Cyril and Methodius and completed her degree in 2015.

Her master thesis, titled "Criminological Aspects of Juvenile Criminality From 2009-2013 in the Republic of Macedonia", provided critical insights into understanding the complexities of criminal behavior among juveniles. After defending her thesis, she earned a title Master of Laws in Criminal Law. 

Meanwhile, in 2019, she graduated from the Faculty of Philology “Blaze Koneski” at the University of St. Cyril and Methodius, Department of Turkish Language and Literature and she earned the title Professor of Turkish Language and Literature.

In 2020, she finished her doctoral studies at the Faculty of Law "Iustinianus Primus" at the University of St. Cyril and Methodius. Her doctoral dissertation, titled: "Criminological and Penal Aspects of Juvenile Delinquency in the Republic of Macedonia", provided a significant contribution to the fields of criminology, criminal law, and juvenile justice. The work addresses the structure of sentences for juveniles, phenomenological and etiological aspects, recidivism, and prevention of juvenile delinquency. After defending her PhD thesis, she earned the title Doctor of Law in Criminal Law.

She did her researches at: Istanbul University, Faculty of Law, Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Istanbul/Turkey; University of Travnik, Faculty of Law, Travnik/ Bosna and Herzegovina; Pan European University, Faculty of Law, Bratislava/Slovakia.

Dr. Ebru Ibish's academic interests are broad, as evidenced by her authorship of more than 40 scientific articles and 4 books. Her work covers a wide range of topics in criminology, criminal law, international criminal law, juvenile delinquency, and social pathology, providing a comprehensive understanding of these fields. She participated in international conferences in North Macedonia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Albania, Azerbaijan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Slovakia, and Austria.

MENTORS

Prof. Dr. Nikola DACEV

Asst. Prof. Dr. Marta VEJSELI

Asst. Prof. Dr. Ebru IBISH

Asst. Betim AMETI

OUR SERVICES

The Legal Clinic at the Faculty of Law offers free legal information and advice to persons from vulnerable groups (socially endangered persons, women victims of violence, the Roma people, international migrants, as well as all other persons who are discriminated against on any basis according to the Law on prevention and protection against discrimination) in field of:

- social rights

- consumer rights

- criminal-legal matters

- other advice and legal issues

- foreigners’ law in the EU

- company law and trade

CONTACT

legal.clinic@ibu.edu.mk