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On March 4, Dr. Atsushi Shiraki (S.J.D. ’24), Associate Professor of Law at the University of the Ryukyus, convened a distinguished panel for a Clinical Legal Education session exploring emerging practices in Hawaiʻi, New Mexico, and Japan.
The event featured esteemed legal scholars Professor Eduardo R. C. Capulong and Professor Carol Suzuki of the University of New Mexico School of Law, who shared their expertise in clinical legal education and its transformative role in legal training.
Cordeiro’s exoneration marks a major victory in the fight for justice, but cases like his highlight the critical need for funding to continue HIP’s work. DNA testing alone costs upwards of $100,000 per case, and HIP relies on donations to support these efforts, as well as the work of dedicated attorneys and students advocating for the wrongfully convicted.
The session drew significant interest from Japanese legal practitioners and scholars based in both Japan and Honolulu, fostering a dynamic exchange on the evolving landscape of legal education. Attendees examined how clinical legal education has become a cornerstone of U.S. legal training, equipping future lawyers with essential practical skills through experiential learning.
The discussion also highlighted how Japan is increasingly recognizing the value of clinical legal education, with Dr. Shiraki emerging as a leading advocate for its integration into Japanese legal academia. His efforts align with a growing movement to expand clinical offerings in Japan, emphasizing their role in cultivating socially conscious and practice-ready attorneys.
This cross-border dialogue underscored the importance of collaboration between legal educators in different jurisdictions and reinforced a shared commitment to developing innovative, effective models for legal education.