AUAF Business Clinic Closes Another Successful Semester
January 6, 2016
The American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) has concluded its Fall 2015 business clinic, a program designed for AUAF law students to gain hands-on business law experience and utilize their skills and knowledge to solve the wide-ranging legal issues facing Afghan businesses.
Students partner with members of the Business Innovation Hub (BiH), an affiliate organization of AUAF comprised of Afghan and international consultants who provide business management and leadership services to Afghan businesses. While members of BiH focus on assisting clients on growth strategy, AUAF law students join the advisory team through the business clinic to solve legal challenges.
Students meet clients throughout the semester to better understand their needs and engage their feedback and inputs. The type of legal services required varies, although a common client request is for research across a wide range of legal issues, including the rights and obligations of employers and employees, legal issues affecting non-profit organizations, customs duties and tax treatment of specific types of products, advertising restrictions on the pharmaceutical industry, business licensing process in various industries, and issues relating to different forms of business organization under Afghan law. Students take a comprehensive approach to performing this research, collecting empirical data and conducting interviews with members of various organizations, ministries, and courts across Kabul. At the end of the semester, students summarize their key findings in a client presentation and submit their written reports for publication through the ALEP website.
Students participating in the clinic also perform legal services such drafting contracts for clients, including partnership and joint venture agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and employment agreements, and conducting trainings to increase awareness of various laws and regulations pertaining to Afghan businesses. In the Fall 2015 semester, for example, the students provided training to HR managers of approximately 20 medium-sized Afghan businesses on the various labor law issues including the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees as well as key points in drafting employment agreements.
According to AUAF Law Department Chair, Mehdi Hakimi, the clinic plays a vital role in preparing students with the practical skills needed to become successful attorneys: “By the end of the semester, the students will have gained valuable legal experience and skills including client interviewing and counseling, legal research and analysis, contract drafting and legal writing in general, and conducting client presentations and trainings.”
Going into its third semester, the clinic is already in high demand among students. As a result, the program is expanding its partnership beyond BiH to other organizations also dedicated to representing Afghan businesses. The next business law clinic begins in the Spring 2016 semester.
