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Campus: Kensington Campus
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Career: Undergraduate
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Units of Credit: 12
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Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 14
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Enrolment Requirements:
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Currently enrolled in a program in the Faculty of Law.
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Description
Students attend the Faculty's clinic, Kingsford Legal Centre, two full days a week. The clinic is a community legal centre which provides a free legal service to the local community. Students manage client files under the supervision of experienced clinical supervisors who are practising solicitors. Students take responsibility for interviewing clients and the research, drafting and preparation necessary to resolve legal difficulties by litigation or other means. In addition to two days attendance, students attend evening advice sessions during which they interview people attending for legal advice with volunteer lawyers. A daily tutorial and a weekly class provide an opportunity for discussion and analysis of students' experiences, and for instruction in legal procedure and skills. There are regular opportunities to attend Court and Tribunals. Major areas of work in which students will be involved include domestic violence, discrimination, consumer credit, victims compensation, family law, employment law, wills, legal aid and criminal justice issues. As well as client files, students take part in community education, and in policy and reform work.
Clinical legal education teaches students about how law and the legal system function through working with real clients. This enables students to analyse the effect of law in practice and engenders in students an appreciation of the ethical, social and practical complexity of the legal system.
Recommended Prior Knowledge
None
Course Objectives
- To develop your critical appreciation of the law and legal system in Australia through participation in a legal practice working for clients who are financially or otherwise disadvantaged
- To enhance your contextual understanding of the law and legal process by exposing you to real clients with legal problems
- To provide you with a detailed understanding of the legal aid system and develop your understanding of issues of access to the legal system for the Australian community
- To develop your awareness of the role of lawyers in practice in the legal system
- To develop your understanding of ethics and responsibility in a workplace setting
- To introduce you to the importance of developing basic lawyering skills to a high level of proficiency including communication, interviewing, drafting and negotiation
- To develop your ability to see beyond a casework approach to legal problems by providing opportunities to participate in campaign and education work
- To encourage you to see the law as a vehicle which can be used to protect and develop human rights
Assessment
Students receive one of two results for this subject - Satisfactory Completion or Fail:
- Students are interviewed on a one to one basis for assessment in week 6 and week 12
- Students undertake a self assessment in week 5. This will be discussed in the second assessment interview
- Students are assessed on performance in relation to the assessment criteria
- Students do a case presentation on an issue relevant to the Centre's work
- Students are required to show thorough performance and application to the client and project files, a willingness to think critically about the legal process, and a willingness to adapt their manner and conduct according to the needs of the particular client or legal problem
Course Texts
Prescribed
Reading materials for this course are purchased at the Kingsford Legal Centre. Recommended
Reading materials for this course are purchased at the Kingsford Legal Centre. |
