Public Interest Law Clinic (LAWS50116)
Graduate coursework level 5Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
For more information
Melbourne Law School Clinics
Email law-wil@unimelb.edu.au
Semester 2
As above
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 and consider how it might translate into litigation. 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.
Applying to enrol in enrichment electives
This subject is an application-based enrichment subject.
Melbourne Law School offers a range of JD elective subjects that provide enrichment opportunities to students. Each of these subjects has its own application process. For up-to-date details, see the JD LMS Community for announcements about applying to enrol in JD enrichment elective subjects.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who successfully completes this subject will have developed and demonstrated:
- an enhanced practical understanding of the practical and technical skills, personal attributes and ethical awareness needed to practise effectively in the public interest sector, including in the areas of interviewing and counselling, research, advocacy, communication, file management and organisation;
- the ability to reflect critically and meaningfully on ethical questions that arise from practising public interest law;
- an enhanced critical understanding of the scope, composition, capacity, limits and challenges of the legal assistance sector in Australia;
- an understanding of the techniques of public interest lawyering and the differences between public interest lawyering and other forms of lawyering; and
- the ability to reflect critically and meaningfully on 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, including strategic litigation design.
Last updated: 8 November 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into the MC-JURISD Juris Doctor
AND
All of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50023 | Legal Method and Reasoning | Summer Term (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50024 | Principles of Public Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50025 | Torts | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50029 | Contracts | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90140 | Disputes and Ethics | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
AND
An additional 12.5 credit points from the JD compulsory subject program.
Apply to enrol
Melbourne Law School offers a range of JD elective subjects that provide enrichment opportunities to students. Each of these subjects has its own application process. See the JD LMS Community for announcements about applying to enrol in JD enrichment elective subjects.
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: 8 November 2024
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Attendance at all orientation and clinic sessions and satisfactory performance on placement Hurdle requirement | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Class participation | Throughout the teaching period | 15% |
Reflective journal, usually three entries, due at regular intervals
| During the teaching period | 30% |
Legal writing - strategic litigation design report
| End of semester | 40% |
Placement performance | 15% |
Additional details
The due date of the above assessment(s) will be available to students via the Assessment Schedule on the LMS Community.
Last updated: 8 November 2024
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Kate Fischer-Doherty Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 February 2024 to 26 May 2024 Last self-enrol date 8 March 2024 Census date 3 April 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 3 May 2024 Assessment period ends 21 June 2024 Semester 1 contact information
For more information
Melbourne Law School Clinics
Email law-wil@unimelb.edu.au - Semester 2
Principal coordinator Donna Askew Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 22 July 2024 to 20 October 2024 Last self-enrol date 2 August 2024 Census date 2 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 September 2024 Assessment period ends 15 November 2024 Semester 2 contact information
As above
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
This subject is taught on campus and through a clinical placement at a host organisation.
This subject has an enrolment quota of 30 students per offering.
This subject is an application-based enrichment subject. Melbourne Law School offers a range of JD elective subjects that provide enrichment opportunities to students. Each of these subjects has its own application process. For up-to-date details, see the JD LMS Community for announcements about applying to enrol in JD enrichment elective subjects.
Last updated: 8 November 2024
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
Last updated: 8 November 2024