PUBLIC INTEREST LAW PRACTICE

LAW2PLP

2020

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

In this subject students have the opportunity to experience law in practice in the public law sector . You are placed in one of a variety of not-for-profit, public interest or government agencies. The focus of the legal work differs from agency to agency and may include policy and project work, law reform, advice to government, litigation, campaign work, client advice and representation. Students develop reflective practice through the process of writing journals and supervision sessions. Students spend 12 days at the placement site (normally one day a week), have a designated site supervisor and have regular meetings with an academic supervisor on campus. In the seminars the scope, practice and ethical aspects of public interest lawyering is explored. In the supervised tutorials students reflect on, compare and contrast their placement experiences.

School: La Trobe Law School (Pre 2022)

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Sue Marshall

Available to Study Abroad/Exchange Students: No

Subject year level: Year Level 2 - UG

Available as Elective: No

Learning Activities: N/A

Capstone subject: No

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: Complete 60 credit points of LAW level 1 and 60 credit points of LAW level 2 subjects and enrolment is by application only

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: N/A

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Quota Management Strategy: Merit based quota management

Quota-conditions or rules: By the order of application to subject coordinator

Special conditions: Students cannot enrol in any of these placement subjects without securing a placement, and written approval from the Subject Coordinator or Experiential Learning Team.

Minimum credit point requirement: N/A

Assumed knowledge: N/A

Career Ready

Career-focused: Yes

Work-based learning: Yes

Self sourced or Uni sourced:
Uni Sourced

Entire subject or partial subject: Entire subject

Total hours/days required: 75 to 115 hours

Location of WBL activity (region): Flexible

WBL addtional requirements: Hosts complete an evaluation on professional behaviours. Other additional requirements will depend on the host organisation but may include a Working with Children’s Check, Police Check, selection interview, host organisation agreements, host inductions.

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

Graduate Capabilities

COMMUNICATION - Communicating and Influencing
DISCIPLINE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Research and Evidence-Based Inquiry

Intended Learning Outcomes

01. Develop a reflective approach to learning.
02. Demonstrate critical thinking in relation to the practice of public interest law and its place within legal practice
03. Analyse the professional and ethical responsibilities of a legal practitioner in public interest law practice
04. Develop communication skills in a legal environment.
05. Develop legal research skills.

Melbourne (Bundoora), 2020, Week 09-26, Day

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: 22

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Sue Marshall

Class requirements

Placement - Off SiteWeek: 10 - 22
One 12.00 days placement - off site per study period on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

SeminarWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.00 hours seminar every two weeks on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

TutorialWeek: 11 - 22
One 1.00 hour tutorial every two weeks on weekdays during the day from week 11 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

Assessments

Assessment elementCommentsCategoryContributionHurdle%ILO*

Class preparation and participation activity (1000 word equivalent)Assessment is based on tutorial questions and other learning activities

N/AN/AN/ANo20SILO1, SILO3, SILO4

Three reflective journals (300 words each - total of 900 words)Assessment will require students to demonstrate critical and reflective thinking skills

N/AN/AN/ANo30SILO1, SILO2, SILO3

Essay (2500 words)Essay questions will be linked to class readings and students will be expected to apply appropriate research techniques for answering it.

N/AN/AN/ANo50SILO2, SILO5

Satisfactory completion of placementHurdle requirement: student must demonstrate that they have conducted themselves satisfactorily from the perspective of the host

N/AN/AN/AYesnull

Melbourne (Bundoora), 2020, Week 30-44, Day

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: 22

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Sue Marshall

Class requirements

Placement - Off SiteWeek: 31 - 43
One 12.00 days placement - off site per study period on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.

SeminarWeek: 31 - 43
One 2.00 hours seminar every two weeks on weekdays during the day from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.
on same day as tutorial

TutorialWeek: 32 - 43
One 1.00 hour tutorial every two weeks on weekdays during the day from week 32 to week 43 and delivered via face-to-face.

Assessments

Assessment elementCommentsCategoryContributionHurdle%ILO*

Class preparation and participation activity (1000 word equivalent)Assessment is based on tutorial questions and other learning activities

N/AN/AN/ANo20SILO1, SILO3, SILO4

Three reflective journals (300 words each - total of 900 words)Assessment will require students to demonstrate critical and reflective thinking skills

N/AN/AN/ANo30SILO1, SILO2, SILO3

Essay (2500 words)Essay questions will be linked to class readings and students will be expected to apply appropriate research techniques for answering it.

N/AN/AN/ANo50SILO2, SILO5

Satisfactory completion of placementHurdle requirement: student must demonstrate that they have conducted themselves satisfactorily from the perspective of the host

N/AN/AN/AYesnull