Students
LAWS5038 – Access to Justice Placement Program
2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Kirsten Davies
Contact via via Ilearn
06 First Walk (Law Building),room 505
Tuesdays 9-11.00 a.m or by appointment
Lecturer
Judith Preston
Contact via via Ilearn
By appointment
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
160cp in LAW or LAWS units and permission by special approval
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit involves attendance at clinical placements and internships arranged by Macquarie Law School. There are a number of clinical placement opportunities in the social justice, court and community legal service sector. Placements are advertised via email by Arts PACE and on the Law School website, and entry to this unit is by application. S1 applications open in November of the previous year. S2 applications open in week 4 s1. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Analyse and critique the social, political, ethical and legal issues involved in public provision of legal services in specific contexts.
- ULO2: Contrast and analyse the connection and tension between law and procedure on the one hand, and the realities of legal practice on the other
- ULO3: Identify the personal and professional demands on, and expectations of, a lawyer in practice
- ULO4: Apply the interpersonal skills necessary in legal practice
- ULO5: Engage in personal reflection demonstrating self awareness in relation to your capacity to carry out legal work in a professional environment
General Assessment Information
Full assessment details and instructions for each placement type are found on iLearn under tabs for 'WSCLC Placement' , 'ALS and AuroraPlacements'. Students should only refer to the tab relevant to their placement.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placement Presentation | 25% | No | 13/10/2020 |
| Research Essay | 40% | No | 23/10/2020 |
| Group Discussion and Debrief | 15% | No | Week 12 |
| Reflective Report | 20% | No | 30/10/2020 |
Placement Presentation
Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 13/10/2020
Weighting: 25%
Students will make an 8 minute presentation to members of their placement group, and other placement groups about a particular aspect of their placement and the institution attended. The aim of the class presentations is for students to learn from one-another about issues of interest that have been experienced by other students during their placements. Each will be presenting to students who have undertaken different placements. The idea is that the students learn something new and interesting from one-other on access to justice. Presentations can be factual eg interesting information about the placement organisation, an example of a project worked on; or it can be theoretical eg thoughts that have arisen as a consequence of the placement. It can also be general observational about a process or the system that the student engaged with.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Apply the interpersonal skills necessary in legal practice
Research Essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 16 hours
Due: 23/10/2020
Weighting: 40%
Students are required to submit a research essay critiquing a current social justice policy and practice issue.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Analyse and critique the social, political, ethical and legal issues involved in public provision of legal services in specific contexts.
Group Discussion and Debrief
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 4 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 15%
Students are required to participate in class discussion by responding to set discussion questions, specific to their placement. The expectation is that students will reflect and share their individual and shared placement experiences, and contribute their thoughts on concepts raised in the readings
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Contrast and analyse the connection and tension between law and procedure on the one hand, and the realities of legal practice on the other
- Identify the personal and professional demands on, and expectations of, a lawyer in practice
Reflective Report
Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 30/10/2020
Weighting: 20%
Depending upon the placement, students are required to write a reflective report or weekly journal entry for each week of the placement. The aim of the activity if for students to reflect on their activity and the way it has impacted how they see, think and act. In doing so they will examine themselves, and will draw explicitly on their placement activities and consider the context of the partner organisation
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Engage in personal reflection demonstrating self awareness in relation to your capacity to carry out legal work in a professional environment
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Students in this unit undertake placements with various Community Legal Centres, Legal Services and NGOs. All unit materials are provided on iLearn, with placement - specific readings provided by individual supervisors at the placement organisation.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.