The Australian National University ANU Legal Workshop


Legal Practice Experience
 Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find a placement?
What kind of placement will be approved for Legal Practice Experience?
Can I do my placement overseas?
How do I get my placement approved?
What is a retrospective placement?
What do I do when I have finished my placement?
Can I change my approved placement arrangements?

If you have a question which is not addressed here please contact Kristy Eardley at LPE@law.anu.edu.au

For more in depth information please refer to the Legal Practice Experience Rules.

How do I find a placement?

It is the student's responsibility to secure their own placement. Legal Workshop may be able to offer help to those students looking for placements in the ACT. If you require help finding a placement in the ACT you must notify Kristy as soon as possible. Please be aware that any assistance we can provide with placements is dependant on availability.

Legal Workshop is also undertaking a project in partnership with the National Association of Community Legal Centres regarding legal practice experience in participating regional, rural and remote Community Legal Centres. Take this link  for further information.

Also check the LPE Board .

Finding and arranging placements can take time, please do not leave finalising your placement to the last minute.

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What kind of placement will be approved for legal practice experience?

The placement must involve you in legal work, exercising legal skills in a legal environment (in contrast to administrative, financial or research/academic work).
Ideally you will:

• Be exposed to the systems, procedures and work commonly found in legal practice, which applies equally to government
   legal practice,
• Have contact with, and responsibility to, clients – which includes government and corporate clients, and
• Be exposed to the professional responsibilities of a lawyer.

Subject to the LPE rules you may do a placement with:
• a legal practitioner in private practice
• a government, semi-government or corporate legal office
• a community legal service
• a legal aid service
• a state or Commonwealth Prosecuting authority
• a judge or magistrate
• a Tribunal member (who is a legal practitioner)
• the Legal Workshop’s Legal Aid Clinic Program or
• any other place which the LPE Convenor is satisfied provides appropriate practical experience.

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Can I do my placement overseas?

Overseas placements may be approved by the LPE Convenor if the placement meets the placement requirements in these rules and:
• The placement would be undertaken in an English speaking work environment; and
• The placement would occur in a common law country, or
• The student would be working on common law matters.

The overriding consideration is that the work is comparable to the delivery of legal services in Australia, involves the exercise of legal skills and is appropriately supervised.

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How do I get my placement approved?

You must fill out the Application of Approval of LPE form. This requires information regarding the work you will be undertaking and must have your supervisor’s signature.  This form must be returned to Kristy:
Kristy Eardley
LPE Administrator
ANU Legal Workshop
ANU College of Law
The Australian National University
Canberra ACT 0200

E: LPE@law.anu.edu.au

F: (02) 6125 8990

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What is a retrospective placement?

Placements can be approved retrospectively. Placements must have been undertaken in the 2 years preceding your application for retrospective approval to be considered, not your enrolment in the GDLP. You will usually be given retrospective credit for up to 50% of the total placement period. For example, if you are applying for 80 days of LPE you may be approved 40 days retrospectively.

Retrospective credit for more than 50% of the placement period is only likely to be granted where you are not able to undertake placement during the GDLP. Your reasons for being unable to undertake placement will be considered in making a decision about any retrospective credit.

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What do I do once I have finished my placement?

When you complete your placement, you must submit a Placement Report via the LPE Wattle site. If you cannot access the site, please submit the form to LPE@law.anu.edu.au  It is advised that you submit your placement report within 2 weeks of completing your placement.

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Can I change my approved placement arrangements?

It is possible to change placement arrangements. If there is any change to your placement details, including a change in supervisor arrangements, you must let Kristy Eardley know immediately. Please note that if we haven’t approved any variation the placement period may not count towards LPE requirements.

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