The goal of this research is to analyze the centre of legal practices of the University of the
West of Pará (NPJ/UFOPA) considering its human, material and pedagogical aspects. The
analysis verifies the contribution of the institution on the academic education of law
graduates. The interest for this topic started due to the author´s experience as a teacher in
NPJ/UFOPA since 2010. This experience brought some concern over this subject. This
research is based on the systematization of the methodological/theoretical references,
documental research and interviews. Two themes will be approached in two separate but
connected chapters: the first chapter will cover debates concerning the main functions of the
NPJ and the centre of the UFOPA along with a study of the pedagogical project of the course
of law and statutes as well as norms of the institute. We will analyze the relations on the
activities of the NPJ/UFOPA and the main beneficiaries of the free legal assistance as well as
show the characteristics of the beneficiaries of this service. The second chapter will present
the clinical methodology and the extension and research projects of the UFOPA that aim to
amplify activities related to the legal practice. This chapter will also analyze the centre of
legal practices of UFOPA, its operation, its importance for the law graduates and eventual
difficulties that may occur. In conclusion, we identify the problems on the process of
fulfillment of the pedagogical functions of the NPJ/UFOPA, and the ways to improve this
process. Some structural changes are suggested such as the adoption of activity groups that
incorporate an office that will give free legal assistance, mediation, negotiation and
conciliation to vulnerable people. Another idea is to create a laboratory of simulated practices
and a centre of legal clinics.
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