The lived experience of a university law clinic supervisor: an autoethnographic inquiry

Supervision is an acknowledged hallmark of clinical legal education (Giddings, 2013; Evans et al., 2017). Law clinic supervisors are at the heart of delivering the full possibilities of the clinic environment. However, despite the recognised value of supervision within law clinics, research on the supervisory role is limited. Existing studies overwhelmingly provide detached advice designed to increase the effectiveness of supervisory practice for the benefit of clinic students. There is a paucity of detailed insider accounts examining the realities of being a supervisor. The literature is fragmented, out of date, and lacks deeply critical analysis of supervisors’ lived experiences.