Handbook

This course affords students the opportunity to work in a host organisation which undertakes advocacy or research on aspects of policy and practice relating to an area of law. The program provides formal and informal training, as well as supervised practical experience, in planning and implementing key aspects of research, writing, legal assistance, advocacy and related activities. Students will be critically analysing the operation of the law, policy and the legal system as part of the course.

AT THE HOST ORGANISATION 

Each successful applicant for participation in the program is allocated as an intern to a host organisation at the outset of the Term. The host organisation will assign a supervisor for each intern. Students will work under the supervision of a supervisor within the organisation. Students are required to attend their host organisation for 10 days (with up to five additional days at the discretion of the Director of Experiential Learning). In Terms 1 and 2, this will be done on a one day per week basis. In Term 3, students will attend their host organisation for two days per week for the first five weeks of the Term. The range of projects in which the intern is involved will be determined according to the project priorities of the organisation, whilst ensuring educational outcomes are maximised for interns. Generally, it is expected that an intern’s duties will consist of a combination of tasks, including research, project, advocacy, administrative, editing, writing, event coordination, preparing background materials, briefing papers, liaising with other organisations and doing relevant work of a substantive nature.

There are two categories of Host Organisations, for which assessment requirements differ:

1. Sydney- based Internships : Students may apply to organisations that are based in the Sydney area. These include host organisations at UNSW, and self-organised placements
2. Travel Internships – Students may apply to host organisations that are based outside Sydney. These include self-organised regional, interstate and overseas hosts.

IN THE LAW SCHOOL

Interns are required to attend seminars staggered throughout the Term (11 face-to-face contact hours in total). Modules for these seminars will cover topics such as professionalism, balance and resilience, networking and communication skills, and connecting the dots from internship to career. The purpose of the seminars is to promote discussion and reflection on a range of issues that may arise during the course of the internship, for example, legal, professional, ethical and personal issues. They may also address the application of skills, such as legal research, legal writing, advocacy and interviewing.

In addition, an online module covering topics such as setting goals, professional behaviour, ethics and reflective journaling must be completed by the student prior to the first day of their internship. 

Attendance by interns at the host organisation and seminars is mandatory. Students whose attendance falls below the specified 10 days or who do not attend Seminars without a medical certificate or other adequate evidence will be deemed not to have completed the subject requirements and will not be eligible to pass the course.