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Public Interest Law Clinic (LAWS50116)
Graduate coursework level 5Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Graduate Services Coordinator (Work Integrated Learning)
Email: law-wil@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 4475
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Semester 2
Graduate Services Coordinator (Work Integrated Learning)
Email: law-wil@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 4475
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject provides practical experience in which students support lawyers in public interest organisations in the delivery of legal services to the community. Students will undertake 12 days of clinical placement with a partner organisation in the community or government sector. On placement, and under supervision, students will utilise the legal knowledge and skills acquired during their degree to undertake work on legal issues with real clients, and in doing so, will be exposed to the realities of legal practice. The placement will be through regular, scheduled attendances throughout semester.
Prior to commencing with their host organisation, students will participate in two days of intensive orientation to prepare for their placement, including learning new legal practice skills and about specific areas of law where relevant. This will be complemented by seminars during the placement period. In these seminars, students will reflect on their ongoing clinical experience. This combination of practical placement and academic support will allow students to consider and reflect on the broader contexts in which legal issues arise, the lawyer's role and relationship with the delivery of justice and contemporary developments in professional practice.
A central component of the subject is that students critically reflect on their practical experience of public interest lawyering. The reflection serves several purposes. First, it gives students the opportunity to consider how the issues and ideas raised in the context of public interest lawyering are reflected in their practical experience in this area of law. On an individual level, it also provides students with the opportunity to reflect on their own use of legal skills, knowledge and approach to practice and consequently build on these skills, knowledge and competencies.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who successfully completes this subject will have a sophisticated insight into, and be able to reflect critically and meaningfully on:
- The practical and technical skills and ethical awareness needed to practise effectively in the public interest sector, including in the areas of research, advocacy, communication, file management and organisation;
- The ethical questions which arise from practising public interest law;
- The scope, composition, capacity, limits and challenges of the legal assistance sector in Australia;
- The techniques of public interest lawyering and the differences between public interest lawyering and other forms of lawyering; and
- The capacity of law and lawyers to create social, economic and political change.
Generic skills
Upon successful completion of the subject, students will have developed and demonstrated the following skills:
- Interpersonal and communication skills to gather information, understand context, and convey legal concepts to a non-legal audience (including clients) in a way that is useful and effective;
- Cognitive skills in understanding the significance of the interrelationship of facts and law, and an appreciation of the place for legal and non-legal responses to clients' problems;
- Cognitive and technical skills relating to the generation and provision of legal advice and information attuned to clients' needs;
- Skills required for effective workplace performance, such as communication, time management, and office organisation;
- Ability to work cooperatively and professionally in a legal assistance organisation; and
- Ability to engage in analysis and critical reflection on a range of challenging questions arising from practical legal experience in the public interest sector.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Only approved applicants can enrol into this subject.
Successful completion of all the below subjects:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS50023 | Legal Method and Reasoning | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50024 | Principles of Public Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50026 | Obligations | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50027 | Dispute Resolution | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50028 | Constitutional Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50029 | Contracts | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50031 | Legal Theory | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- Hurdle Requirement: Attendance at all orientation and clinic sessions and satisfactory performance on placement;
- Oral presentation, in weeks 9-12 of semester (15%); 10 minutes
- Reflective journal, usually 4 entries due at regular intervals during the teaching period (25%); 1500 words
- Legal writing, at end of semester (60%). 3500 words
The due date of the above assessment will be available to students via the Assessment Schedule on the LMS Community.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Kate Fischer-Doherty Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 116 hours comprising 2 days of orientation, 12 days of clinical placement, 14 hours of seminars Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 22 February 2017 to 28 May 2017 Last self-enrol date 16 October 2016 Census date 31 March 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2017 Assessment period ends 23 June 2017 Semester 1 contact information
Graduate Services Coordinator (Work Integrated Learning)
Email: law-wil@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 4475
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au - Semester 2
Principal coordinator Kate Fischer-Doherty Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 116 hours comprising 2 days of orientation, 12 days of clinical placement, 14 hours of seminars Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 17 July 2017 to 22 October 2017 Last self-enrol date 16 October 2016 Census date 31 August 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 22 September 2017 Assessment period ends 17 November 2017 Semester 2 contact information
Graduate Services Coordinator (Work Integrated Learning)
Email: law-wil@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 4475
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 60 students (30 students per availability). Applications will be assessed by the Subject Coordinator and students will be asked to attend an interview. Please refer to the JD LMS Community for more details.
Taught on campus and through a clinical placement at a host organisation.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
- Specialist printed materials will be made available from the Melbourne Law School.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Juris Doctor
Last updated: 3 November 2022