LAWGENRL 418: Community Law Internship

Please see the course information here. 

LAWGENRL 418: Community Law Internship is an elective course within the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) that allows you to gain practical, real-world legal experience while contributing to the community.

In this course, you will complete a minimum of 150 hours of work, which includes:

• 115 hours of supervised, unpaid placement with a Law School-approved non-profit or government organisation in a law-related setting
• 35 hours dedicated to researching and writing your final report

Your placement must be supervised by a legal professional or an appropriately qualified supervisor within the organisation.

At the end of the internship, you will submit a 7,500-word report reflecting on your experience and analysing the legal and community issues encountered during your placement. 

To enrol in LAWGENRL 418, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a Part III or Part IV LLB student
• Have completed all of: LAW 201, LAW 211, LAW 231, and LAW 241
• Have completed at least one of: LAW 297, LAW 298, or LAW 299
• Not have previously completed LAWGENRL 405 or LAWGENRL 447

You cannot self-enrol in this course or apply through a concession. Enrolment is subject to approval by the Faculty of Law.

To be considered for enrolment, you must follow the steps below:

• Secure an internship with an eligible organisation
  • When applying for an internship, you will need to provide a CV, cover letter, and an academic transcript.
• Obtain formal confirmation of your placement. Your host organisation must confirm:
  • Your internship placement
  • Supervision arrangements
  • Your ability to complete the required hours
• Submit your placement confirmation and the Application form to the Law School
• Once your placement is approved, you will be manually enrolled into the course.
• After enrolment, you will receive access to the report guidelines, logbook, and evaluation requirements on the LAWGENRL 418 Canvas Page.

LAWGENRL 418 can only be completed once.

You are responsible for securing a suitable internship. You can refer to the list below of approved organisations.

Approved organisations. 

If you have an organisation in mind, it may be approved on a case-by-case basis, provided it:

• Is a non-profit community or government organisation
• Can provide the required hours and supervision
• Clearly outlines your role and responsibilities during the internship

You cannot be paid for the internship. 

If you are unsure whether an organisation is suitable, please contact the Law Student Support team.

Please note you cannot use work from a previous or current paid role or clerkship for this course. The internship must be conducted during the semester of your enrolment.

You will work with your supervisor to arrange your placement hours. These do not need to be the same each week, allowing for flexibility alongside your studies.

All required hours must be completed by the Friday of the final teaching week of the semester. It is your responsibility to manage your time effectively and ensure your hours are completed on time.

We strongly recommend aiming to finish your placement by the second-to-last week of semester. This allows you to use the final 1–2 weeks to focus on completing your report.

The final assessment for this course is a 7,500-word report. This report requires you to critically reflect on your internship experience, including:

• The legal and community issues you encountered
• Your role and contributions within the organisation
• The broader impact of the organisation’s work in the community

Your report should provide a thoughtful analysis of the project or work you were involved in. It is not simply a summary of your day-to-day tasks, but an opportunity to engage deeply with your experience.

You should also reflect on your learning throughout the placement. This may include considering how your legal studies have prepared you for practice, and how your practical experience connects to your academic learning.

You must:

• Submit your report via Canvas by the specified due date
• Submit your completed logbook alongside your report

All reports are assessed by a member of the Faculty of Law’s academic staff.

This report can be credited as a sustained piece of writing for LAW 498.

It is recommended that you begin exploring placement opportunities early, as positions are limited.

Late applications may be considered.