This course is part of the Law School’s experiential courses. This means that students are taught by undertaking a placement in a Centre at UNSW focusing on social justice issues as well as participating in regular seminars. Centres undertake advocacy, research, and legal work relating to various areas of law. Students will be critically analysing the role of lawyers, operation of the law, policy and the legal system as part of the course in regular classes.

Each successful applicant for participation in the program is allocated as an intern to a particular Centre at UNSW at the outset of the session. The Centre will assign a supervisor for each intern. Students will work under the supervision of a supervisor within the partner organisation and will attend classes through the semester.

The participating Centres where students can complete a Social Justice Internship are as follows:

1 Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII)
2 Australian Human Rights Centre
3 Centre for International Finance and Regulation
4 Centre for Law, Markets & Regulation
5 Cyberspace Law & Policy Community
6 Diplomacy Training Program
7 Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law
8 Indigenous Law Centre
9 Kingsford Legal Centre
10 National Children’s and Youth Law Centre
11 National Pro Bono Resource Centre
12 Social Justice Project

Interns are required to attend at the Centre for at least the equivalent of one day each week over 12 weeks, by arrangement between the intern and the partner organisation and confirmed with the Program Coordinator. The Centre sets the requirements for the duration of the internship. In some cases this can be done in block modes over winter or summer if the Centre agrees.

The range of projects in which the intern will be involved will be determined according to the project priorities of the Centre. However, in general it is expected that an intern’s duties will consist of a combination of advocacy, research, project administrative work, preparing legal/policy materials, editing, writing, event coordination, preparing background materials, briefing papers, liaising with other organisations and doing relevant work of a substantive nature.

Interns are required to attend classes. These are designed to promote discussion and reflection on a range of issues that may arise during the course of the internship – for example, legal, professional, ethical and personal issues. They may also address the application of skills such as legal research, legal writing, advocacy and interviewing.

Attendance by interns at the Centre and at the program seminars is mandatory. Students whose attendance falls below the specified 12 days (or equivalent) or who do not attend classes without a medical certificate or other adequate evidence will be deemed not to have completed the subject requirements and will not be eligible to pass the subject.

The aims and expected learning outcomes of this course are formulated with the UNSW Law School Graduate Attributes (GAs) in mind.

The aims of this course
The principal goal of the program is to provide students with training and practical experience in research, writing and advocacy on aspects of policy and practice relating to social justice and the law (especially the reduction of inequity and exploitation). The specific aims of the course are to:

1. Assist students to develop an understanding of the issues involved in legal practice and policy-making on social justice issues.(GA1)
2. Consolidate students’ skills related to legal practice and policy advocacy, such as legal analysis, writing, research and strategic planning (GA2, GA3);
3. Develop student understanding of work and management of social justice organisations
4. Develop students professional skills including refining their ability to communicate clearly in written and oral forms, and developing their commitment to ethical practice and policy-making;
5. Assist students to recognise the social justice issues present in the broader administration of the law, in the court system and in government policy (GA1, GA5).

Consistent with the aims of the course as above, the learning outcomes expected on the completion of this course include:

1. Have developed an appreciation for the professional and personal responsibilities associated with the practice of law and policy work(GA1);
2. Have observed and participated in a high level of problem solving flowing from the development of policy or legal practice (GA1, GA2);
3. Have developed the skills to evaluate the impact of law on individuals, communities and the Australian society as a whole (GA1, GA2, GA3);
4. Communicate effectively, in speaking and in writing (GA4).
(a) conducting research;
(b) preparing or editing written material (e.g., research, issues or briefing papers; parliamentary submissions; formal legal documents; articles; submissions; web resources; newsletters; etc);
(c) developing and utilising networks of organisations and individuals;
(d) organising and conducting interviews, delegations, seminars, media conferences and other meetings;
(e) preparing speeches or other oral presentations.

Participation in the program is by competitive application. Selection and allocation of participants is the joint responsibility of the Program Coordinator and the Centres.
Applicants are usually in the final or penultimate year of their LLB or JD course at UNSW, although in special circumstances they may be in earlier years. It is permissible to undertake both a Social Justice Internship (LAWS 3307/JURD7307) and a Public Interest Internship LAWS 3308/7307).

Applicants will need to familiarise themselves with any prerequisites or stipulations by the partner organisation (for example, internships may only be open to Indigenous students or to students who have completed certain courses in the Law School).

Inquiries may be made to the Experiential Learning Officer (Student Services) Mei Lee, or the Director of Experiential Learning Frances Gibson.