We partner with a wide range of community legal centres to offer you one of the most diverse clinical legal education programs in Australia. Each clinic offers you the opportunity to work in a social justice setting for academic credit through the elective law course, LAWS5180.

During your clinical placement, you will spend one day per week during semester undertaking legal work under the close supervision of experienced lawyers.

You must apply for a place in the Clinical Legal Education Program for the next semester. 

The majority of clinics will only take undergraduates that have completed at least sixteen (16) units of LAWS courses, however, there are clinics that may take third year students. There is no minimum GPA required to participate in LAWS5180. Priority is given to students who are soon to graduate, and who demonstrate a genuine interest in social justice (including through participation in UQ Pro Bono Centre projects).

This page is for our semester-based clinical program. If you would like to read about our regional clinical program, please click here

1. Clinics

The UQ Pro Bono Centre organises placement for the student at one of the clinics listed below. Students do not organise their own placement, but are asked to preference their desired clinics on application. Most students get their first or second preference. 

Click here for detailed information about each clinic (UQ login required)

Caxton Legal Centre

Consumer law advice clinic | Caxton Legal Centre website

This is a casework only clinic with heavy client contact. Students take instructions and provide advice and assistance on consumer and consumer credit matters to clients on the telephone and in person. Preference will be given to students who have studied commercial law or who have a demonstrated interest in the law of consumer protection.

6 students work on Fridays.

Prisoners Legal Service logoPrisoners Legal Service

Prison law clinic | PLS website

Students undertake casework relating to prison law, in particular assisting clients with legal issues relating to prison conditions and parole decisions. Students must have successfully completed Administrative Law. Human Rights Law would provide a significant advantage. Students may visit prisons as part of this clinical placement which would require completing a criminal history check.

2 students work on Tuesdays.

Deaths in custody clinic | PLS website

Students contribute to the Deaths in Custody caselaw database (www.deaths-in-custody.project.uq.edu.au) and conduct other research activities related to deaths in custody. Students are provided with practical exposure to how those issues impact PLS clients and sit in on interviews with PLS clients. There are no pre-requisites for this course, however Administrative Law and Human Rights Law would provide a significant advantage. Students may visit prisons as part of this clinical placement which would require completing a criminal history check.

3 students work on Tuesdays.

PLS will conduct informal interviews with selected students for both clinics prior to commencement to determine suitability.

EDO logoEnvironmental Defenders Office Ltd

Environmental law research clinic | EDO website

Students may undertake casework, environmental law reform, policy work and research. Preference is given to students who have completed courses in environmental and/or planning law and who have a demonstrated commitment to environmental issues. In the past clinic students have also had the opportunity to be involved in environmental litigation work however this will depend on the activities of the EDO in Semester 1, 2023.

3 students work on Tuesdays.

Tenants Qld logoTenants Queensland

Tenancy law clinic | TQ website

This clinic is a primarily casework-focused clinic, where students take instructions and provide advice to tenants about their rights under Queensland residential tenancy law. The majority of legal advice and information is provided by telephone, however some will client work is face-to-face.

4 students work on Wednesdays.

Refugee and Immigration Legal Service

RAILS logoRefugee and immigration law clinic | RAILS website

In this clinic, students undertake casework relating to onshore protection visas and other related immigration matters. Preference will be given to students who have studied Immigration & Refugee Law, or who have a demonstrated interest in this area.

6 students work on Tuesdays, 6 students on Thursdays.

Logan YFS

Culturally safe criminal law practice | Logan YFS website

In this clinic, students will learn about culturally safe practice in criminal law. This unique clinic provides students with an opportunity to engage more deeply in the issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples interacting with the criminal justice system and to develop an appreciation for the important work of Indigenous practitioners across the legal system. The first six weeks of placement focus on developing an understanding of the Youth Justice system, particularly surrounding the injustices faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, while the last six weeks of the clinic see students undertaking practical exercises such as writing submissions and preparing cases for prosecution and defence.

Students will need to hold a valid Blue Card to work at this clinic.

3 students work on Tuesdays.

LawRight

Health Justice Partnership (Practical) | LawRight website
(Mater Clinic)

LawRight logoLaw students will be placed at the Mater Health Centre, South Brisbane. Law students in the HJP will work in a multidisciplinary team alongside social work students, and hospital clinical staff to provide legal advice, assistance, and advocacy for patients. Students may also be involved in research and project work in the areas of health justice, client empowerment and storytelling for law reform. Students can expect to work across a wide range of legal issues including debt, tenancy, employment, personal injuries, superannuation, medical negligence, enduring documents, NDIS issues, and victims of crimes.

4-6 students work on Wednesdays.

LawRight

LawRight logoCommunity and Health Justice PartnershipsLawRight website
(Homelessness Clinic)

LawRight’s CHJP provides legal assistance to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, domestic violence and other forms of vulnerability. The CHJP works in partnership with health, welfare and housing services to provide holistic support to our clients. Students spend half their placement supporting staff lawyers while they deliver legal services at community agencies. The other half of the placement is spent completing law reform projects relating to homelessness.

6 students work on Tuesday for 6 weeks, and another day for the other 6 weeks.


Please note: Clinical legal education days are not PLT, and cannot be counted as PLT days. 

Overseas opportunity

Through the elective law course LAWS5233 Transnational Perspectives in Law, students have the opportunity to engage in inter-jurisdictional learning in different parts of the world.

New Columbo Plan grants are available for a limited number of law students to undertake LAWS5233 internships.