South Africa Human Rights Clinic 12UOC - LAWS3619

Faculty: Faculty of Law

School: Faculty of Law

Course Outline: See below

Campus: Sydney

Career: Undergraduate

Units of Credit: 12

EFTSL: 0.25000 (more info)

Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 6

Equivalent: LAWS8619

CSS Contribution Charge: 3 (more info)

Tuition Fee: See Tuition Fee Schedule

Further Information: See Class Timetable

Description

The course offers students an opportunity to engage in practical legal experience through working with human rights organisations in South Africa. There will be a five week supervised experiential learning clinic based at partner organisations in Johannesburg, South Africa. The clinic will take place during January and February. Students will attend a seminar program about South Africa, its history and legal system, and about the roles and responsibilities of interns. Students will work on a range of issues identified by the organisations and will gain practical experience in various legal approaches. Through work on specific litigation, advocacy and law reform projects students will deepen their practical skills in research, writing, advocacy, problem-solving and strategic thinking. This course differs from the 6UOC course as it contains an additional assessment requirement in the form of a memorandum on a key project undertaken during the clinic.

Please see the South Africa Human Rights Clinic on the Faculty of Law webpage for further details and application information.

Recommended Knowledge


Coursework or experience in the areas of human rights law & advocacy, public interest litigation, or similar subjects is highly desirable.

Course Objectives


At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to:
  • Apply an understanding of human rights law to the South African context.
  • Identify and critically assess legal and non-legal strategies that may be employed by human rights lawyers and advocates in various domestic and international settings.
  • Apply research, writing and problem-solving skills in formulating policy and legal responses to current human rights problems.
  • Employ basic lawyering skills, including oral and written communication and drafting skills, and the ability to produce timely and professional written work-product that may be relied upon by other professionals.
  • Engage professionally with different stakeholders in an international context, demonstrating appropriate cultural sensitivity and an understanding of ethical, political and professional accountability issues related to human rights work.
  • Work actively and collaboratively as part of a team.
  • Critically evaluate the role of law and lawyers in protecting and advancing human rights in different contexts.

Assessment


Presentation - 10%

Clinic Performance - 70%

Seminar Participation - 10%

Memorandum - 10%