Aina Salom: "I am in favour of returning to oral exams"

PalmaAina Salom (Alaró, 1980) took over the deanship of the Faculty of Law at the UIB with the aim of marking a new era at the center. Since her arrival, she has committed to opening the Faculty to society, strengthening the use of Catalan, and promoting modern, innovative, and student-centered legal training. Her project seeks to transform the Faculty into a more accessible, dynamic space connected to professional and social reality.

How have you experienced these first two years of your term as head of the Faculty of Law?

— From the first day, my dean's team has worked to put students at the center and strengthen the presence at the Faculty. We wanted an institution where they could train as jurists, but also with an active and enriching student life. We have promoted activities and spaces to improve their connection with the Faculty, the teaching staff, and the dean's team, and to foster a close and participatory environment. In this line, we promoted the creation of the Law Students' Association and various initiatives that have strengthened this sense of community.

What was the first thing you wanted to change when you took office, and what has been more difficult than you expected?

— The objective was not to change, but to continue improving. One of the first lines of action was to promote the normalization of the use of Catalan, foster the coexistence of the two official languages, and reinforce the role of Catalan as the native language. In parallel, we have consolidated mock trials as a tool to bring training closer to professional practice, with the support of the Government, and this year we have taken a further step with the first simulation in Catalan.

When your term ends, how would you like your time as dean to be remembered?

— I would like us to be remembered as a team committed to the institution, democratic values, and the training of lawyers connected to reality. We have promoted activities linked to the major legal debates of the moment and projects such as mock trials, the Faculty's podcast, and specialized seminars, while maintaining a close relationship with the students and close collaboration with the main legal institutions of the Islands.

How have you worked to reverse the traditionally more rigid perception associated with the Jovellanos building and the studies taught there?

— We did not share this perception, because we are a faculty oriented towards the future and teaching innovation. In fact, we are updating the curriculum with a new subject on Skills for lawyers, which will address professional ethics, deontological standards, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence. It is not conservative at all. We want to train lawyers with critical thinking skills, aptitude for debate, and commitment to democratic values, human rights, and public service. AI is a useful tool, but it will never replace reflection, debate, or human interaction.

Today the Faculty projects a friendlier and more open image. What elements do you think have been key in this change?

— Students know that the doors are open to them and we want them to feel comfortable and part of a true university community. Beyond material improvements, we maintain direct contact with them to understand their needs and promote activities that interest them. The participation of active professionals in mock trials strengthens the link with the working world, and we are working so that our courtroom can host small claims trials. We also support the teaching staff in organizing conferences and other initiatives. In short, we are a close-knit team that rows together with the students.

If you had to define in a single idea what you want the Faculty of Law to represent today within the university, what would it be?

— An open faculty, committed to students, to teaching innovation, and to training lawyers prepared for current challenges.

One of the challenges for current universities is the disconnection between students and teaching methodologies. What concrete changes have you promoted to reverse this trend?

— As a Faculty, we are aligned with teaching innovation and, for this reason, we have adapted schedules and methodologies. There are in-person hours and also interaction hours through innovative methodologies, with activities that complement in-person teaching. We do this because state regulations and the guidelines of the Spanish Network of University Quality Agencies (REACU), which promote teaching innovation in university centers, so mark it. We also have to consider that the emergence of artificial intelligence makes it necessary to rethink the evaluation system. Going back is not always bad. I believe in it a lot, and I am in favor of returning to oral exams, especially in a degree where the main means of communication is the voice. It is going back to be able to move forward.

What are the main discomforts or demands of the students today?

— Students are mainly asking us for debate spaces on current issues, more training in oratory, and contact with professionals who can explain the reality of legal practice. We also want to strengthen mental health support, with activities on emotional management, well-being, and stress management, because the practice of law requires comprehensive preparation. Furthermore, they have conveyed to us the need for more resting spaces and shaded areas on campus.

What role do you think mock trials in Catalan should play in legal training?

— It is very important. We have driven this initiative with the support of the Institut d'Estudis Baleàrics and it was a pride to be able to hold this first simulated trial in Catalan. Actors participated as witnesses and a case of harassment was worked on. The level was very high and it was demonstrated that it is perfectly possible to promote the use of Catalan among future jurists.

Are there internal resistances to the most innovative methodologies?

— The majority of the teaching staff have adapted very well to it. There are some constructive reservations, always expressed with a will to improve. It is not an opposition, but a different way of understanding how things should be done. However, everyone shares the idea of the new curriculum and views it positively. There is also academic freedom and each person innovates as far as they consider it convenient. But if it is about innovating, they will always find the dean's office by their side.

You have initiated a process to strengthen the presence of the Catalan language at the Faculty. At what stage is this process?

— We love Catalan. It is about gradually fostering compliance with the decree. We believe we have advanced, although I do not have official data. The deanery, when an associate professor joins and asks for guidance on the language, promotes the use of Catalan.

However, most of the teaching guides are still in Spanish. Is this a situation that can be reversed in the short or medium term?

— It can be reversed through promotion activities driven by the deanery and the departments. We also have the support of the linguistic policy services, who ask us to continue raising awareness and convincing the teaching staff. The world of justice has traditionally been very Hispanized. Our responsibility is to comply with the Statute and the linguistic policy of the University. We want to promote Catalan as our own language.

What role do IDIB and the Legal Clinic play in the projection and modernization strategy of the Faculty of Law?

— It is a very relevant role. Recently, at the Conference of Deans of Law, this issue was also addressed. The Legal Clinic is a service offered by the Faculty in which both faculty and students participate. It helps to show a very important aspect of the Faculty: its social function. People who find themselves in complicated situations can turn to the institutions that collaborate with us and receive guidance through the Legal Clinic. The students offer them guidance and help them get in touch with the resources they need. It is an initiative closely linked to the social vision we want to permeate the Faculty.

What kind of lawyer do you want to graduate from the Faculty of Law today?

— A critical, brave, empathetic lawyer, and above all, a good person. Someone who practices their profession with esteem, respect for colleagues, and commitment to people's rights. And also a person who carries the defense of rights as a banner and who maintains absolute respect for institutions and for justice.