Clinical placement courses
The clinical programs at the ANU College of Law are courses for which students receive credit to their degree. The clinics are oriented to social justice issues, as well as giving students an opportunity to provide direct services to people in need.
Clinical legal education is a highly effective way to teach law. It requires a staff-student ratio that is higher than is usually possible under the Commonwealth funding model for legal education (which places no value on the effective study of ethical and social dimensions of law), and it requires the availability of placement sites for students to attend. Judy Harrison (currently on leave) is the Director of the clinical program at the ANU College of Law.
The program offers three undergraduate clinical placement courses:
Community Law Clinical Program
LAWS2268
This clinic is based at the ACT Welfare Rights and Legal Centre. Students work for two days a week at the Centre, providing legal information and undertaking client casework under supervision. As well, they attend a weekly three-hour workshop on lawyering and legal issues, and develop a research project.
Clinical Youth Law Program
LAWS2267
This clinic is based at the Youth Law Centre, a non-profit legal service for ACT young people aged 12-25 years. While analysing the various roles that lawyers can play, students focus on ways of extending legal assistance, social justice and reform in relation to youth legal needs in the ACT. Students undertake onsite work for one afternoon a week, attend a weekly morning workshop, and undertake a research project.
International Social Justice Clinic
LAWS2240
This clinic is a 'virtual' clinic which places students with a social justice organisation operating outside the ACT, but the students remain on campus. Their relationship with their field supervisors at the placement organisation is conducted online, by email, telephone and a purpose designed website on the 'Wattle' platform (hence the 'virtual' clinic). The placement organisations are international grassroots organisations working to bring people together to overcome poverty, injustice and inequity in the Australia, the Pacific and Southeast Asia. In 2011 the clinic was taught as a special elective.
