Legal clinics

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 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

Prison law clinic | PLS website

Students undertake casework and law reform/policy work relating to prison law, in particular assisting clients with applications for parole. Students must have successfully completed Administrative Law. Students will likely visit prisons as part of this clinical placement and must therefore complete a criminal history check. PLS will conduct informal interviews with selected students prior to clinic commencement to determine suitability.

3 students work on Tuesdays.

Environmental Defenders Office Queensland Inc

Environmental law clinic | EDO website

Students undertake casework, environmental law reform and policy work. 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 two semesters clinic students have been very involved in environmental litigation work.

3 students work on Tuesdays.

Tenants 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

Refugee and immigration law clinic | RAILS website

In this clinic, students undertake casework relating to family reunification visas and associated immigration law 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 Tuesday, 6 on Thursday.

Logan YFS

Culturally safe criminal law practice | Logan YFS website

This clinic is client-focused, working with young people facing the youth justice system.  Students will learn about culturally safe practice in criminal law, working with a diverse group of young people under the supervision of an Indigenous Lawyer.  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.

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

3 students work on Wednesdays.

LawRight

Health advocacy clinic | LawRight website

In this clinic, students will work in a multidisciplinary team alongside social work students to provide advice and assistance to patients at Mater Young Adult Health Centre. Areas of law include guardianship and administration, mental health, estates planning and anti-discrimination.

4 students work on Monday, 4 on Wednesday.

LawRight

Homeless persons clinic | LawRight website

This clinic combines casework and law reform/policy/research. Students attend outreach legal clinics at community services to interview clients and undertake legal casework, and also work on policy and law reform issues relating to homelessness.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

We consider several factors in selecting students.

Your interest and GPA

The online application form asks you about your motivation for applying to participate in the CLE Program, as well as any prior work experience you have undertaken.

Generally, students who can demonstrate a genuine interest in community legal work will be preferred to those who apply for other reasons, such as career advancement or as an ‘easy’ elective option. Students who can provide specific examples of pro bono activity or work experience in the subject area of the clinic for which they are applying will be strongly considered. An example may be a student who participates in a local environmental group and who applies for the Environmental Law Clinic, or a student who assists with the Rosie’s Street Van who applies for the Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic. Demonstrated experience is not essential, but again, it is a consideration that will be taken into account.

Your LAWS GPA is also taken into account. Although there is no GPA cut off for the CLE Program, a strong academic performance is one consideration that will be taken into account. You must provide an accurate LAWS GPA on the form (the Law School may check the GPA provided against student SI-net records).  LAWS GPA is calculated on the first attempt at all LAWS courses which count towards the degree. Find out how to calculate your GPA.

Year level

Students in their final or penultimate semester of study will often be selected over more junior students (but this is not always the case).  The main reason is that students in their third or fourth years of study will still have the opportunity to apply for the CLE Program again in future semesters, whereas for final year students this may be their last chance.  You are still encouraged to apply.  All applications are recorded, and your prior unsuccessful application may be positively regarded as an indication of your genuine desire and commitment to participate in the CLE Program.

How to show you are only interested in one clinic

The online application form allows you to select an option which states you are only interested in one clinic. Please select this option. You should also be clear about your preference in the ‘motivation’ section of the application form, noting that if not selected for the clinic you prefer not to be considered for any other clinics. 

Second-time applicants

You can apply to do the CLE program a second time, although your chance of being selected twice is very low. The course is oversubscribed and the Law School seeks to provide as many students as possible with the opportunity to participate. This naturally reduces a student’s chance of having a second go if it means that other students may miss out.

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