“How to Set up and Run a Law Clinic,” a book co-authored by University of Miami law professor and associate dean for Experiential Learning JoNel Newman is finding a new purpose thousands of miles away, serving as a foundational tool for strengthening clinical legal education in Armenia. The project was sponsored by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, a Swedish nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting democracy and human rights worldwide.
The institute, headquartered in Sweden, operates several strategic offices worldwide, including one in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. As part of its mission there, the institute is working to support and build up the nation's law school clinics. In its search for effective resources, the institute approached the authors of Newman’s book. According to Newman, the deputy country director, Arman Gasparyan, told her they had reviewed numerous books on the subject before selecting theirs.
"We chose this book because it uniquely combines the philosophy and the practical aspects of running law clinics. The authors draw on decades of global experience, offering insights that resonate with the Armenian context,” said Gasparyan. “By translating it, we wanted to make this knowledge accessible to local educators and contribute to building stronger, more sustainable legal clinics across the country.”
After securing permission from the book's publisher, the institute funded the complete translation and publication of the book in Armenian. The book’s impact, however, extended beyond the printed page. The Raoul Wallenberg Institute invited Newman and her colleagues, who are based in the UK, to Armenia for a formal book launch celebrating the newly translated version and several days of workshops conducted by Newman and her co-authors for Armenian clinicians.
“Having the authors in Armenia brought the book to life,” said Gasparyan. “Their direct engagement with local clinicians created a space for genuine dialogue and exchange, helping participants see how global experiences in clinical legal education can be adapted to Armenia’s specific realities.”
This international recognition highlights the practical impact of clinical education and scholarship at the School of Law. The institute’s initiative in Armenia is part of a broader strategy that includes focused efforts in other key areas, such as Ukraine. For Armenia, the goal was clear. "There are law school clinics in Armenia, so it was… how do we strengthen those? How do we build those up? How do we support them?" said Newman, director of the School of Law’s Health Rights Clinic.
Newman also notes the possibility of future collaboration, saying that she and her co-authors established relationships with staff from the institute as well as several Armenian legal scholars and clinicians. “We hope to help create a clinical network in Armenia,” she said.
Read more about Miami Law’s clinics.
