Students
LAWS5078 – PACE Clinics and Projects
2021 – Session 2, Special circumstances
Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update
The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.
This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.
Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Rebekah Stevens
Monday 11:00 to 12:00 (please make an appointment)
Director, Social Justice Clinic
Daniel Ghezelbash
Wednesday 12:00 to 13:00 (please make an appointment)
Director, PACE
Dr Doron Goldbarsht
Wednesday 13:00 to 14:00 (please make an appointment)
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| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
160cp in LAW or LAWS units and permission by special approval
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit provides the opportunity for students to participate in a variety of workplace experiences including (but not limited to), the Macquarie University Social Justice Clinic, and projects with law firms, legal centres, community-based legal organisations and services, government agencies and not-for-profit organisations. The aim is to provide real world experience and the opportunity to collaborate with other students as a team. Workplace experiences may be undertaken on a weekly or block basis. Placements are allocated through an application process. Applications to undertake this unit will be advertised to students online. Entry to the unit is only by special permission and is dependent on the number of applications and the available projects. FOE code
090900 Law
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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: Demonstrate competency in practical legal skills, such as conducting legal research, providing legal policy advice, preparing file notes and court documents, drafting legal correspondence and other forms of legal and non-legal writing.
- ULO2: Reflect on your professional skills and knowledge and develop and implement plans for continuous learning
- ULO3: Identify, manage and reflect on ethical issues that arise in the legal environment
- ULO4: Recognise and reflect on your own strengths and limitations in relation to your interpersonal skills and your ability to work effectively in a team.
General Assessment Information
| Reflective Writing |
Goal setting and reflective writing |
Students will be required to set goals for their clinic or project placement and to reflect on how well they have achieved those goals over the course of the unit. | ||
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Participatory task | Clinic and project workplace tasks |
Students will work on a variety of clinic and project tasks according to the needs of partner organisations and clinic and project supervisors. Students will be expected to attend all meetings with their clinic and project partners and maintain a reflective journal. |
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Report | Final project or clinic report |
Students will be required to write a report that either represents a reflection upon their clinic placement or project or which responds to the initial brief in a project. The requirements for reports will be outlined in detail on iLearn and will be clinic or project specific. |
Late Assessment Submission Penalty
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 credit will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goal setting and reflective writing | 30% | No | 23:59 15/08/2021 and 23:59 07/11/2021 |
| Clinic and project workplace tasks | 30% | No | Ongoing |
| Final project or clinic report | 40% | No | 23:59 07/11/2021 |
Goal setting and reflective writing
Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 23:59 15/08/2021 and 23:59 07/11/2021
Weighting: 30%
Students will be required to set goals for their clinic or project placement and to reflect on how well they have achieved those goals over the course of the unit.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Reflect on your professional skills and knowledge and develop and implement plans for continuous learning
- Identify, manage and reflect on ethical issues that arise in the legal environment
- Recognise and reflect on your own strengths and limitations in relation to your interpersonal skills and your ability to work effectively in a team.
Clinic and project workplace tasks
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 80 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 30%
Students will work on a variety of clinic and project tasks according to the needs of partner organisations and clinic and project supervisors. Students will be expected to attend all meetings with their clinic and project partners
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate competency in practical legal skills, such as conducting legal research, providing legal policy advice, preparing file notes and court documents, drafting legal correspondence and other forms of legal and non-legal writing.
- Reflect on your professional skills and knowledge and develop and implement plans for continuous learning
- Identify, manage and reflect on ethical issues that arise in the legal environment
- Recognise and reflect on your own strengths and limitations in relation to your interpersonal skills and your ability to work effectively in a team.
Final project or clinic report
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 23:59 07/11/2021
Weighting: 40%
Students will be required to write a report that either represents a reflection upon their clinic placement or project or which responds to the initial brief in a project. The requirements for reports will be outlined in detail on iLearn and will be clinic or project specific.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate competency in practical legal skills, such as conducting legal research, providing legal policy advice, preparing file notes and court documents, drafting legal correspondence and other forms of legal and non-legal writing.
- Reflect on your professional skills and knowledge and develop and implement plans for continuous learning
- Identify, manage and reflect on ethical issues that arise in the legal environment
- Recognise and reflect on your own strengths and limitations in relation to your interpersonal skills and your ability to work effectively in a team.
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 will undertake the unit in one of two streams: A clinic stream or a project stream.
The clinic stream begins with a comprehensive orientation program, including training in reflective practice and a session on dealing with vicarious trauma when appropriate to the clinic context. Further skills-based modules are available for students to complete in their own time on ilearn. Students will work under the close supervision of solicitor-teachers on real-world social justice cases, undertaking a range of activities including legal research and writing, client interviewing, and legal and non-legal advocacy. Students work face-to-face with their solicitor-teacher in the clinic on campus or on location with the partner organisation.
In the project stream, students are introduced to the PACE program and course structure in Week 1 before meeting their PACE partner. Students are given additional support in relation to reflective practice and teamwork to help ensure a successful team work experience. PACE partners provide a written project brief that outlines the PACE activity. These are legal and/or policy projects that will contribute to the work of the partner organisation. The projects are developed in consultation with the convenor and supervisor to ensure that the projects are challenging but achievable within one session. PACE partners also brief the students on the work of the partner organisation and the projects. Students in the project stream will meet regularly as required by the project and partner, allowing teaching staff to monitor students’ progress and to support students and teams as the need arises.
Students require access to a computer and a secure and reliable internet provider.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). 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
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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.
Unit information based on version 2021.05 of the Handbook