Public Interest Law Clinic unit (LAW344)

Introduction

This unit will provide you with the opportunity to put skills and knowledge gained during your Law studies into practice in the University of Tasmania's on-site legal clinic (Student Legal Service), assisting clinic lawyers to advise clients, prepare research, advice and correspondence to and for clients, design community legal education materials, and contribute to policy and law reform efforts. Clinical Legal Practice and Education is now a central feature of law studies across Australian Universities.

This unit provides you with the necessary educational foundation to effectively engage in clinical legal practice within the law degree and as a student volunteer in social justice and community law activities. It allows you to learn about the law in practice, directly contribute to and support vulnerable communities, and reflect on your role as a future lawyer. Clinical legal education provides this while developing your legal skills. You will receive training in legal professional conduct, legal ethics, correspondence and communication, client relations, memo and advice preparation, legal collaboration, and case and firm management. Training and seminars will be delivered by academic staff and guest lecturers from the legal profession.

By completing this unit, you will be better prepared to make genuine and substantial contributions to social justice and volunteering work, either outside your studies or as part of Legal Professional Experience (for which this unit is a prerequisite). The unit connects to the training you will receive in the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice at the Tasmanian Centre for Legal Studies, facilitating your transition to that program and to legal employment after it.

Summary

Unit name	Public Interest Law Clinic
Unit code	LAW344
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Arts and Society Faculty of Law
Discipline	Law
Coordinator	Associate Professor Yvette Maker
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Advanced

Availability

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Learning Outcomes

• Reflect critically on the work and obligations of lawyers and other legal professionals, the operation of the legal system and the way in which law is practised
• Think creatively when approaching real-word legal issues and tailor your response to the circumstances
• Apply your theoretical legal knowledge and research to a legal problem in an efficient and directed way
• Demonstrate preliminary practical legal and professional skills and the ability to adopt and utilise the appropriate skills in the circumstances
• Work independently, collaboratively and under direction in a professional and inclusive manner

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Requisites

Prerequisites

Selective enrolment

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	Lecture: 1 hour weekly starting week 1 Clinic/Seminar: 4 hours fortnightly starting week 1 or 2
Assessment	Assessment Task 1: Clinic Participation (20%)|Assessment Task 2: Personal Accountability and Reflection (35%)|Assessment Task 3: Research Project and Presentation (45%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Required readings for each week are set out in the Unit Schedule and Guide and available to access in the Reading List linked in the LAW344 MyLO.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.