Introduction

This chapter introduces the edited collection Clinical Legal Education in Europe: Innovation and Social Justice. The volume examines the evolution and contemporary landscape of clinical legal education across Europe, offering theoretical foundations and practical insights into its transformative impact on legal education and access to justice. Organized around four central themes – clinical theory, national pedagogical contexts, social justice challenges and global perspectives – the volume presents contributions from diverse European jurisdictions including Spain, Italy, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, the UK, Georgia and Ukraine. It explores pressing contemporary issues such as refugee rights, student wellbeing, artificial intelligence integration and clinical practice during armed conflict, while addressing fundamental questions about professional responsibility, curriculum integration and pro bono values. Through examining innovative approaches including public legal education initiatives and policy clinics, this comprehensive exploration demonstrates clinical legal education’s vital role in fostering socially engaged, resilient legal practitioners equipped to address 21st-century challenges.