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John Curtin Law Clinic and Curtin Link give eligible Law students the opportunity to put their legal skills into practice and develop professional skills. Under the supervision of experienced legal practitioners, you will meet with and prepare pro bono advice and information for clients.
The unit provides you with excellent workplace experience in the dedicated clinical legal education environment of the John Curtin Law Clinic.
You have the opportunity to assist clients in one or more of the John Curtin Law Clinic’s practice areas:
Small Business Disputes Advice
Discrimination Law Advice
Clinic Link – Clinic students also have the opportunity to assist clients of Curtin Link. This is a Curtin initiative providing legal, tax and business assistance to not-for-profit organisations, start-ups, and businesses with a social enterprise focus in the development or early operation phase.
Law Reform Project – students can alternatively choose to be involved in non-litigious strategies for changes, and drafting law reform submissions.
By enrolling in this unit you will contribute to access to justice by assisting clients who would not otherwise be able to afford legal assistance, and/or contributing to projects focused on law reform. You will also reflect on your role and responsibilities as a future member of the legal profession.
Enrolment in Legal Clinic (LAWS3005) is by self enrolment or application. You will ideally be studying in your penultimate year, or have otherwise completed the following units:
Corporate Law;
Professional Responsibility; and
Civil Procedure
If you haven’t met all the pre-requisites required for self-enrolment, you may be accepted via an expression of interest. Please submit an application in your preferred study period and we will try to accommodate your preferred study plan.
Unit Learning Outcomes are:
Undertake directed legal research on specific matters and analyse and evaluate the results of that research.
Engage professionally and appropriately with clients and stakeholders.
Make and communicate recommendations clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
You will be required to attend:
An induction and training workshop, where you will learn about Law Clinic/Curtin Link procedures including how to use the practice management database
1 weekly rostered day (7 hours) at the Law Clinic/Curtin Link to meet with clients, undertake client work, manage files and carry out other responsibilities
1 weekly seminar (2 hours) to share, reflect on and consolidate experiences regarding legal professional practice
Assessment for the unit is Pass/Fail and is determined on the basis of the following components:
Legal drafting
Reflective learning participation
Professional practice skills
Throughout the unit, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate professional practice skills, including by participating in client interviews and managing client files. You are expected to engage professionally and appropriately with clients. You are responsible for managing client files to a high standard, consistent with your professional responsibilities. You will learn how to manage client files using the Law Clinic’s practice management database as you would in a law firm. Alternatively, in the Law Reform Project group you will practise skills associated with non-litigious strategies for change.
If you meet all the pre-requisites, you can self enrol in Legal Clinic (LAWS3005) at any time. If you haven’t met all the pre-requisites (including when your grade for a pre-requisite unit hasn’t yet been released), you can put in an Expression of Interest when applications open.
Waitlists are maintained if Legal Clinic becomes fully subscribed. If you are on the waitlist and a place becomes available you will be contacted and given a limited period of time to respond and accept or decline the place before it is offered to the next person on the list.
