The Clinical Legal Education Association was founded after several years of discussion among clinical teachers. Membership is open to all people interested in using clinical methodology to prepare law students and lawyers for more effective law practice. Clinical methodology includes supervised representation of clients, supervised performance of other legal work, and the use of simulated exercises in a variety of settings, both within law schools and outside of them, and is designed to teach skills and values necessary to the ethical and competent practice of law.

CLEA was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in 1992. What follows is a list of some of the principal goals and accomplishments of the organization: 

1. To bring together in one organization all those involved in clinical education. CLEA welcomes as members not only full-time clinical teachers at law schools belonging to the Association of American Law Schools, but also field supervisors, adjunct teachers, faculty at schools outside the U.S., and other people who are involved in clinical education or are interested in its continued development. 

2. To serve as a voice for clinical teachers and to represent their interests inside and outside the academy. CLEA has been a vigorous advocate for the interests of clinical teachers on a number of issues, including: the proposed interpretation of the ABA/AALS externship accreditation standard; the ABA proposal for mandatory Pro Bono; the proposed cuts in Legal Services Corporation funding; and a uniform law that would make admission to practice easier for clinical teachers. 

3. To promote and disseminate clinical scholarship and research. CLEA was instrumental in founding the first Journal of Clinical Legal Education, a peer-review journal which publishes useful and readable articles about improving the teaching of law and the quality of legal practice. Membership in CLEA includes a subscription to the Journal. 

4. To foster professional development of clinical teachers. CLEA organized the first national conferences on externships and on Alternative Dispute Resolution clinical programs and a workshop for newer clinical teachers. In addition, CLEA has provided training on advanced supervision issues for experienced clinical teachers and field supervisors in two geographic regions. Members receive discounts on the cost of CLEA conferences and training. 

5. To gather and distribute to clinical teachers information about issues and developments that affect clinical teachers. CLEA publishes a newsletter, maintains active telephone and Internet communications, and sponsors an annual salary and demographic survey of clinic teachers. 

6. To Foster the development of clinical methodologies, the integration of clinical methodology into legal education, and the integration of clinical teachers into Law Schools. CLEA organized a workshop on the MacCrate report during the 1993 AALS annual convention which attracted a diverse group of faculty and administrators. CLEA also has a committee to help coordinate local efforts of law schools and the organized bar to review and implement MacCrate recommendations where appropriate. 

CLEA presently has more than 600 members. If you are interested in these goals, or if you would like to contribute by adding some new objectives to a young and growing organization, please join by completing the attached membership form and submitting it with your annual dues to Mark Heyrman at the address listed.

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