Climate Resilience Clinic (LAWS90327)

The concept of climate justice recognises that the risks of climate change are not shared equally. The burden of extreme weather events and more frequent and severe natural disasters, as well as the burdens of mitigation, fall disproportionately on those who are already economically or socially vulnerable.

These impacts are both direct and indirect. Insurance and consumer law problems, tenancy and housing, employment problems and increased rates of family violence can all be caused or exacerbated by climate change. Health impacts can intersect with and compound legal problems. Understanding these issues and recognising the climate-related issues and impacts across all areas of legal practice will be essential for tomorrow’s lawyers.

The Climate Resilience Clinic provides students with the opportunity to work with communities to prepare them for and assist them in the aftermath of climatic events. They will develop the practical legal skills and theoretical understandings required to become lawyer who understands the breadth of law relevant to climate change, and capable of using the law for the benefit of communities that are affected by climate change. 

Students will undertake 12 days of clinical work based at Melbourne Law School under the supervision of the clinic coordinator and partner organisations. Students will use and refine the legal knowledge and skills acquired during their degree to undertake work on real legal issues and provide meaningful assistance to real clients. In doing so, students will be exposed to the realities of ‘climate conscious’ legal practice and will reflect on the implications of this for the role of the law and their place in it.  

Students’ practical work will be complemented by timetabled seminars (held on clinic days) on relevant doctrinal learning and theoretical perspectives. Clinic time will also be allocated to skills sessions as appropriate.

Indicative list of principal topics:

•    Climate and disaster justice – history, theory and evolution
•    Direct and indirect legal issues arising following extreme weather events
•    Legal preparedness and climate resilience – preventing legal issues
•    Health harming impacts of climate change – interdisciplinary perspectives
•    Skills: strategic advocacy, research and policy, community legal education
•    Understanding the broader climate justice movement and engaging with non-legal community agencies

 

Important information about enrolling

This subject is not available for self-enrolment but is an application-based enrichment subject, which means prospective students must apply to enrol. Many of these application-based enrichment subjects also involve a selection process.

More information about the application process can be found on the Application-based enrichment subjects information page inside the Juris Doctor LMS Community [Juris Doctor student access only].