The Dalhousie application for the Gumpert Award emphasized the school's efforts to promote an integrated approach to skills training in each of the three years of law school. There is em phasis on trial advocacy training in each year. In the third year of law school, Dalhousie places considerable emphasis on its two clinical programs and on trial advocacy courses. Since 1970, Dalhousie has offered a legal aid clinical law program, DLAS, w hich provides legal services in a variety of areas to those who otherwise cannot obtain legal assistance. Dalhousie Legal Aid also provides an excellent educational experience for senior law students.
Students spend a full term engaged in legal work on be half of clients.
This practical and worthwhile experience is augmented by a sophisticated simulation-based seminar program where students practise and develop a full range of skills relevant to being good advocates for their clients. In addition to develo ping trial skills, such as questioning witnesses, or making an effective argument, clinic students are also trained in techniques of interviewing, counselling and negotiating. Dalhousie Legal Aid has successfully promoted the interests of disadvantaged individuals and groups in Canadian society. An example of this advocacy role occurred when Dalhousie Legal Ai d became involved in a high profile case which was successfully argued in the Supreme Court of Canada in 1997. The case involved the appropriateness of a trial judge discussing issues of race in making a decision about the credibility of a witness.