The ANU Law School offers three clinic experiences under the new banner of the 'Public Interest Law Clinic.' Following a competitive application round, students will be placed with either Canberra Community Law, Legal Aid or the Environmental Defenders Office. Students can apply for a maximum of two clinical course options, noting that, if successful, approval will only be provided for one clinical course.
Details of each clinic placement are described below. In addition to attending one day of placement each week, students will attend a series of six seminars presented by academics and legal professionals across the semester who will speak to the topic, and associated skills, of public interest lawyering.
Course Details & Eligibility
Mode of Delivery: In-person
Course Convener: Katrina Marson
Offered in: Semester 1 and Semester 2
Requirements:
- Meet the course prerequisites as stated on Programs and Courses
- ANU Child Protection Policy and Procedure
- Working with Vulnerable People Card. We recommend that students who do not have an ACT WWVP card apply for one through Access Canberra prior to applying for an ANU Law Clinic. As processing can take some time, having a WWVP registration by the time Clinic offers are made can minimise stress for students needing to receive their cards before the course starts and will also increase the chance for waitlisted students to be offered a place if spaces become available. WVVP cards are useful for many other employment and volunteer opportunities, so they are an excellent item to have both in your career 'toolkit' and to note on your resume.
Course credit: LAWS4003/ LAWS6003 (6 units)
Apply here
Canberra Community Law Clinic
Location: Canberra Community Law
Details: During this course you will undertake a clinical placement at Canberra Community Law, a community legal centre for low-income and disadvantaged people from the ACT. You will gain hands-on experience in a community legal practice environment, provide legal information and undertake casework under the supervision of practicing solicitors.
When applying for Community Law Clinic, students can also put down their interest for the Dhurrawang Aboriginal Human Rights Program, which provides legal advice and representation to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the ACT. The successful candidates will be enrolled in LAWS4278 / LAWS6278 (6 units) Indigenous Community Legal Clinic.
Legal Aid Clinic
Location: Legal Aid
Details: This is a clinical program based in a community legal practice environment. Students participate in the Youth Law Centre, a non-profit legal service for ACT youth aged 12-25 years. While analysing the various roles that lawyers can play, students will focus on extending legal assistance, social justice and reform - particularly in relation to youth legal needs in the ACT.
Student Testimonials:
I undertook the Youth Law Clinic in my second-last semester, and it was one of the highlights of my time at university. After doing all my courses in a classroom setting, it was incredibly refreshing to be placed in a ‘real world’ environment. In assisting the centres clients, we were exposed to a range of common legal issues which I had not touched on at university. The experience gave some insight into what working in the community legal sector looks like and was very helpful for someone considering future career paths at the end of their degree. Being part of the same team (with four other students) over the 10-week course also meant I got to know and become friends with course mates far more than other courses I’ve done. The supervising solicitors Adam and Michael were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. They also allowed for a level of independence which made the experience much more rewarding. I would highly recommend any law student to take the Youth Law Clinic. - Ali El Zein
My experience at the Legal Aid ACT Youth Law Clinic was incredibly eye-opening and unlike any other course I had undertaken at the College of Law. The YLC Clinic taught me practical, vital real-world skills which are often overlooked in other courses, such as how to interact with vulnerable people in a trauma-informed way, be situationally flexible to real-time matters which arise, tailor legal information to client needs, and how to incorporate a more holistic, non-legal approach when assisting clients. If you feel uncertain about practicing law or do not know what type of law interests you, you should consider participating in the YLC Clinic as you are exposed to a broad range of legal issues and will gain valuable insight into working in the Community Legal Sector. - Josephine-Sophia Gouvoussis
Environmental Law Clinic
Location: Environmental Defenders Office
Details: During this course, you will undertake a clinical placement with the Environmental Defenders Office (a national organisation) under the supervision of practising solicitors from around Australia. You will gain practical legal skills in environmental and planning law. You will also have the opportunity to explore law reform issues relating to environmental justice and consider the role of lawyer in this field of practice.
Desirable Experience: Successful completion of Administrative Law and Environmental Law (and/or other Environment-related Law courses such as Climate Law) would be an advantage when applying for this clinic.
Student Testimonials:
I participated in the Environmental Law Clinic last year, where I was placed on the Northern Territory Healthy Environment and Justice team. I worked on environmental litigation, mining and water law reform submissions, legal research, heritage law and other topics. The work was interesting and enjoyable and was a huge benefit to my practical legal skills. I worked under some incredible lawyers who offered meaningful work, guidance and feedback. My peers worked in a variety of other areas, including criminal law, the EDO National Intake, and other State and Territory teams. The Clinic is a unique opportunity, and for me changed my outlook on environmental law and the role strategic litigation in our legal system. - Sam Stoljar
I was eager to undertake a clinical placement to get some immersion in a professional legal environment, and I am so glad I ended up choosing the Environmental Law Clinic. My supervisors at the Environmental Defenders Office were fantastic at setting work which challenged and developed a range of my legal skills. As the placement was online, the work related to various matters from around the country. This gave me an opportunity to learn about an assortment of environmental harms, and about the various legal frameworks which govern them. I found the clinic to be dynamic, informative and deeply engaging. - Maggie Dorey