Social Impact Hub (Intensive Clinic) - JURD7775
Faculty: Faculty of Law
School: Faculty of Law
Course Outline: See below
Campus: Sydney
Career: Postgraduate
Units of Credit: 12
EFTSL: 0.25000 (more info)
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 2
Enrolment Requirements:
Pre-requisites: Lawyers, Ethics & Justice (LAWS1230/JURD7130) and Resolving Civil Disputes (LAWS2371/JURD7271) OR Law, Lawyers & Society (LAWS1210/JURD7110) and Litigation 1 (LAWS2311/7211)
Excluded: JURD7574, LAWS3074, LAWS3075
CSS Contribution Charge: 3 (more info)
Tuition Fee: See Tuition Fee Schedule
Further Information: See Class Timetable
View course information for previous years.
Description
The Social Impact Hub (Intensive Clinic) is an experiential learning program. In this course students will put their legal and business skills and knowledge to use and gain practical experience in different areas of social impact. The course provides formal and informal training, as well as supervised practical experience, in planning and implementing a project in a field of social impact.
The Social Impact Hub works with industry, social enterprises, not-for-profits and foundations to develop and conduct a variety of applied projects in different areas of social impact. In each semester, projects are offered from the following fields:
The Social Impact Hub works with industry, social enterprises, not-for-profits and foundations to develop and conduct a variety of applied projects in different areas of social impact. In each semester, projects are offered from the following fields:
- Social entrepreneurship and social innovation;
- Philanthropy;
- Impact investing;
- Business and human rights;
- Corporate social responsibility;
- Pro bono and volunteering;
- Law and social movements;
- Measuring social impact;
- Collective impact; and
- Other related fields.
Students are able to preference the project(s) on which they want to work. Students work in small teams on each project.
Students may be involved in research and policy work, writing, advocacy, advising and related activities. Note that the Social Impact Hub does not pursue litigation. Students will be critically analysing the role of lawyers, businesses, foundations, not-for-profits and investors as part of the course.
Students are required to work for at least 24 days at the Social Impact Hub, generally two days a week, and attend scheduled team meetings. The exact time and days of this attendance will be negotiated between the student and the Director of the Social Impact Hub.
Students are also required to attend weekly seminars. These are designed to promote discussion and critical reflection on a wide range of issues that may arise during the experiential component of the course, and also introduce students to the fields of social impact that are not the principal subject of their project. It is intended that students will learn from the projects of other students.
The Social Impact Hub (Intensive Clinic) is one of the elective subjects for law and will normally be taken either in conjunction with or after the completion of Business Associations. It provides a good grounding for students who are looking to work across law and business, and also make a difference to society. The areas of focus of the Social Impact Hub are all growing fields with increasing employment opportunities.
The clinic format gives students a unique opportunity to put into practice doctrinal knowledge and professional skills that will be expected of them as young professionals. For example, students will be expected to develop a project plan and associated timeframe and work to the plan. The course will also develop students' ability to engage professionally and work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders, while gaining experience in producing timely and professional written work-product that may be relied upon by other professionals. They are able develop these capacities within a supportive environment in which students are closely supervised and individualised feedback is frequently available, and in which critical reflection is encouraged. Students will be given significant responsibility and be expected to take initiative, developing the confidence and humility necessary to be effective social change agents in their chosen career.
Students may be involved in research and policy work, writing, advocacy, advising and related activities. Note that the Social Impact Hub does not pursue litigation. Students will be critically analysing the role of lawyers, businesses, foundations, not-for-profits and investors as part of the course.
Students are required to work for at least 24 days at the Social Impact Hub, generally two days a week, and attend scheduled team meetings. The exact time and days of this attendance will be negotiated between the student and the Director of the Social Impact Hub.
Students are also required to attend weekly seminars. These are designed to promote discussion and critical reflection on a wide range of issues that may arise during the experiential component of the course, and also introduce students to the fields of social impact that are not the principal subject of their project. It is intended that students will learn from the projects of other students.
The Social Impact Hub (Intensive Clinic) is one of the elective subjects for law and will normally be taken either in conjunction with or after the completion of Business Associations. It provides a good grounding for students who are looking to work across law and business, and also make a difference to society. The areas of focus of the Social Impact Hub are all growing fields with increasing employment opportunities.
The clinic format gives students a unique opportunity to put into practice doctrinal knowledge and professional skills that will be expected of them as young professionals. For example, students will be expected to develop a project plan and associated timeframe and work to the plan. The course will also develop students' ability to engage professionally and work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders, while gaining experience in producing timely and professional written work-product that may be relied upon by other professionals. They are able develop these capacities within a supportive environment in which students are closely supervised and individualised feedback is frequently available, and in which critical reflection is encouraged. Students will be given significant responsibility and be expected to take initiative, developing the confidence and humility necessary to be effective social change agents in their chosen career.
Application and selection
Participation in the program is by competitive application.
Applicants are generally in the final or penultimate year of their LL.B. or J.D. program at UNSW, although in special circumstances they may be in earlier years. It is permissible to undertake other Clinics or Internships (eg. the Social Justice Internship (LAWS 3307/JURD7307) or the UNSW Law Internship (LAWS 3308/JURD7308) but usually not at the same time/semester except with the permission of the Director of Experiential Learning.
Selection will be on the basis of academic merit, relevant experience, and the requirements of the Social Impact Hub.
Note: priority will be given to students who are prepared to do this course (rather than the 6UOC non-intensive course (LAWS3074 / JURD7574) because students are able to have a more immersive experience, and benefit more from the clinic, completing it intensively. Students will be able to work on a larger project or perhaps multiple projects. Priority will also be given to applicants who are in the final semester of their degree and have not undertaken an internship or clinic at UNSW.
Applicants are generally in the final or penultimate year of their LL.B. or J.D. program at UNSW, although in special circumstances they may be in earlier years. It is permissible to undertake other Clinics or Internships (eg. the Social Justice Internship (LAWS 3307/JURD7307) or the UNSW Law Internship (LAWS 3308/JURD7308) but usually not at the same time/semester except with the permission of the Director of Experiential Learning.
Selection will be on the basis of academic merit, relevant experience, and the requirements of the Social Impact Hub.
Note: priority will be given to students who are prepared to do this course (rather than the 6UOC non-intensive course (LAWS3074 / JURD7574) because students are able to have a more immersive experience, and benefit more from the clinic, completing it intensively. Students will be able to work on a larger project or perhaps multiple projects. Priority will also be given to applicants who are in the final semester of their degree and have not undertaken an internship or clinic at UNSW.
Course Aims
The aims of this course are:
- To assist students develop an understanding of the variety of perspectives on social impact and appreciate how the social system could work more effectively towards improved social impact;
- To help students think critically about their role as lawyers and possible ways to improve society, regardless of whether they intend to work for a commercial law firm, business, NGO, foundation or a community legal centre;
- To consolidate students’ skills related to their professional lives, including their ability to analyse, research, communicate clearly in written and oral forms, as well as develop their project planning and project management skills; and
- To develop students’ ability to engage professionally and work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders, including a commitment to ethical practice and policy-making, while gaining experience in producing timely and professional written work-product that may be relied upon by other professionals.
Course Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate awareness and understanding of different perspectives on social impact
- Critically reflect on their role as lawyers in creating social change
- Develop a project plan and associated timeframe and work to the plan
- Conduct applied legal research, analysis of law and policy
- Demonstrate effective written communication skills for a variety of audiences, evidenced by a concise writing style; constructing arguments supported by their legal knowledge, and interdisciplinary and policy perspectives; and referencing a range of sources using correct citation
- Communicate effectively in oral form
- Work actively and collaboratively as part of a team
- Engage professionally and collaboratively with different stakeholders
Assessment
Assessment is on a pass/fail basis.
Class Participation: 10%
Annotated bibliography: 10%
Project work: 75%
Blog post: 5%
Class Participation: 10%
Annotated bibliography: 10%
Project work: 75%
Blog post: 5%
Study Levels
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