LAW4803 · Clinical placement

Overview

Students will engage in a legal placement hosted by either an external organisation, or at Monash Law Clinics. Under professional supervision, students will undertake a range of activities involving work for end clients/beneficiaries of that host organisation. These activities may include: legal research and writing; and research on ethical, professional and strategic considerations in the practice and application of the law. Students will contribute to the development of legal solutions to complex problems that occur in the context of the practice culture they experience. Depending on the particular organisation selected, students will develop proficiencies in a particular area of law or jurisdiction. Students may also gain greater understanding of social justice and access to justice issues faced by vulnerable and marginalised populations. The skills developed and knowledge gained in this unit will be useful for: • students who wish to practise law • students interested in policy, government and social justice career pathways. Furthermore, students will be required to participate in a compulsory Seminar Program administered by the Faculty

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Independently undertake complex legal research and: a. Assess and articulate options for clients/beneficiaries, including the strengths and limitations of available legal options; b. Pro-actively develop solutions to complex legal problems; c. Synthesise large volumes of material, identifying key information relevant to developing legal material to support casework and/or policy advocacy material d. Recognise and appropriately respond to the strategic and ethical implications of different legal approaches; e. Critically analyse legal principles and the legal system, from a variety of perspectives including theoretical perspectives, identifying gaps and inadequacies in the provision of legal support to clients/beneficiaries
2. Effectively communicate (both orally and in writing) legal information, principles, arguments, strategies and theories of justice with a wide range of audiences involved in the justice system, be it in terms of individual casework or wider policy advocacy;
3. Reflect on and assess their own and/or peer capabilities and performance as flexible, adaptable, independent future legal practitioners by having developed skills of self-reflection and self-management, and to independently synthesise this information.
4. Demonstrate practical legal skills as appropriate to the clinical placement undertaken.

Workload

For local (within Victoria), students are required to spend the equivalent of one full day per week for 12 - 16 weeks on activities related to their placement. Some placements require attendance on site for a full day while others are more flexible, enabling students to do some of their placement work remotely. For placements interstate (not in Victoria) or overseas, students would be required to spend no less than 5 full days per week for a period of 4 weeks or the equivalent over a longer period at the discretion of the Chief Examiner. Scheduled activities may include a combination of work directed by the supervisor, interviewing and advice sessions, research activities and engagement in on-line activities.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.