La Trobe Law School partnerships
The La Trobe Law School partners with a range of legal, community and government organisations.
Together, we are making new discoveries and training the next generation of lawyers and criminal justice professionals.
Our partners include law firms, community legal centres and non-profit organisations that offer clinical placement opportunities – supporting our students to build the networks and skills they need to thrive in the workforce and, over time, transform the sector.
La Trobe Law School Clinics
La Trobe Law School is committed to delivering an outstanding practical education. From second year onwards, students are eligible to undertake work-based learning placements. These placements typically involve one day each week over a semester and enable students to gain academic credit while working in a legal or criminology setting. This is the earliest placement opportunity available for Law students in Victoria, helping them build skills and understand professional practice early in their studies.
Students may be placed with a wide range of hosts, including government agencies, private law firms and community legal centres. Many begin their placement experience at one of La Trobe’s own Law Clinics, where they develop confidence and practical skills before progressing to other workplace settings such as legal aid, government departments or corporate legal teams.
La Trobe Law School currently operates three clinics, with further locations in development
In partnership with Whittlesea Community Connections, students can take part in clinics focused on Civil Actions, Divorce and Wills and Wishes within the Legal Service. Each clinic runs on a different day of the week and is delivered in the community at Pacific Epping. Students work in pairs under the supervision of a practising lawyer. They meet with clients, listen to client instructions, identify legal needs and complete work as directed. Tasks may include drafting wills, preparing divorce applications, supporting clients in documenting their legal issue or helping clients seek waivers for financial hardship.
In collaboration with Kaizen Synergy Law Firm, this clinic assists not-for-profit organisations with regulatory compliance, policy development and risk management. Based within the La Trobe Law School at the Bundoora campus, it provides a familiar and accessible environment for students to gain [direct] client-facing legal experience. The clinic offers valuable insights into the responsibilities of in-house lawyers, aspiring company secretaries and governance, risk and compliance roles. Many of the past students have continued into these types of roles. It is especially beneficial for students interested in either the not-for-profit or commercial sectors which include both community service organisations and sporting peak bodies and clubs. Students have transitioned into competitive seasonal clerkships with major firms, sporting clubs, company secretariat roles and even federal court policy position.
Located at Prace, this clinic helps clients complete forms relating to Centrelink, housing, fines, insurance and other government services. Students work in pairs to support clients who often present with complex and varied issues. As students work with clients, they may identify legal problems and refer them to other La Trobe clinics or to local community legal services. This clinic exposes students to a wide range of client experiences and provides meaningful, hands-on legal support to residents of Darebin, Whittlesea and Banyule.
Education partnerships
Our other key education partners include:
The La Trobe Law School collaborates with a range of private and public legal practices, corporations and government organisations to provide opportunities for Law and Criminology students to gain practical skills and experience, strengthen their academic learning and deliver valuable service to the community.The Network is diverse, with students placed at Tennis Australia, private law firms, and Legal Aid.
This partnership with JobWatch, an employment rights community legal centre, provides internships where students liaise directly on the front line with clients on their employment law issues. Students are trained and supported by JobWatch lawyers to respond to a range of clients on their employment rights to ensure that workers have access to employment justice.
Government and research partnerships
Academics in the La Trobe Law School regularly partner with government and community organisations to produce impactful research of direct relevance to the broader community.
We work collaboratively with our partners to understand challenges, bring together the right capabilities, manage projects efficiently, act with integrity, and guide the translation of legal research results into evidence-based practice.
Recent research partnerships include Equally Well Australia, Victoria Legal Aid, NSW Legal Aid, Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit, and West Justice.
International partnerships
The La Trobe Law School has both research and teaching partnerships with a variety of overseas institutions in countries as diverse as India, Canada, Singapore, Norway, the United States and Sweden. Students have the opportunity to take part in exchange programs at these partner institutions during their studies at La Trobe.
The Law School regularly welcomes academics from foreign institutions to spend time at La Trobe as visiting fellows.