The Student Legal Clinic in Bialystok is a thriving student organization. Work on its creation was undertaken in 1998 by a local group of the European Law Students' Association - ELSA Bialystok.
The founding meeting of the Clinic took place on November 10, 1998, and it was here that the SPP statute was adopted and the chairman of the Clinic was elected, Mr. Szymon Pszczółka. Officially, the Outpatient Clinic began operating on November 11, 1998. The Student Legal Clinic was registered as a research club on November 16, 1998 by decision of the Vice-Rector for Student Affairs at the University of Bialystok. The first head of the Clinic was prof. dr hab. Leonard Etel, who in 2005, in connection with taking up the function of the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Bialystok, entrusted the management of the Clinic with Dr. Arkadiusz Bieliński. The next head of the Clinic was dr Marta Janina Skrodzka, currently she is prof. dr hab. Andrzej Sakowicz.
Acceptance of cases began on 11 January 1999, and by 18 February 1999, 102 cases had already been received. Thirty students worked in five sections: administrative law (supervisor dr hab. Joanna Radwanowicz), civil law (supervisor dr hab. Adam Doliwa, prof. UwB), criminal law (supervisor prof. dr hab. Cezary Kulesza), international law and refugees (supervisor dr hab. Katarzyna Bagan-Kurluta, prof. UwB), tax law (supervisor prof. dr hab. Joanna Salachna).
Fourth and fifth year students work in the clinic. They receive no remuneration for their work. Supervisors selected from the faculty's research and teaching staff supervise the students' work. They also conduct additional specialized training.
An important step in the development of the Clinic was the association in 2003 with the Foundation of University Legal Clinics based in Warsaw, after meeting the standards for the operation of the Clinic, which undoubtedly helped improve the functioning of our Clinic. At that time, a contract was concluded on insurance coverage for civil liability of the Student Legal Clinic by the University of Bialystok. The clinic participates in many Polish and foreign conferences. In 2017, the University Legal Clinics Foundation awarded the Clinic the 1st place in the 2nd Ranking of Student Legal Clinics, which undoubtedly proves the high quality of work of the Clinic's members.
In order to improve the functioning of the office, two people work in the secretary's office. accepting cases, office administration, conducting trainings for new members in conversation with the client, using the office, individual stages of solving cases. Cases are allocated according to an alphabetical list. On average, the Clinic accepts approximately 300 cases each year, most of which are civil.
Currently, the Student Legal Clinic in Bialystok has been transformed into a research laboratory, and has also created a Center for Judicial Practices - periodically organized special practices in court, where under the watchful eye of professionals SPP members can participate in court hearings, discuss actual facts and end such practice by simulating a court hearing.
address: 15-213 Bialystok, Mickiewicza 1, room 119
phone number: +48 85 745 71 94
e-mail: poradnia@uwb.edu.pl
Social Media: www.facebook.com/spp.uwb
