Students at KLC

Studying at KLC

Kingsford Legal Centre is the clinical legal education program for the University of New South Wales Law School. Clinical legal education is a methodology of teaching law, legal procedure and ethics where students are engaged in legal work for real clients.

The Centre is an internationally recognised Centre of excellence in clinical teaching and produces the Clinical Legal Education Guide, a guide to CLE courses offered by Australian universities.

The Objectives of clinical legal education at KLC:

To develop students' critical appreciation of the law and legal system in Australia through participation in a legal practice working for clients who are financially or otherwise disadvantaged.
To enhance students' contextual understanding of the law and legal process by exposing them to real clients with legal problems.
To provide students with a detailed understanding of the legal aid system and develop students' understanding of issues of access to the legal system for the Australian community.
To develop students' awareness of the role of lawyers in practice in the legal system.
To develop students' understanding of ethics and responsibility in a workplace setting.
To introduce students to the importance of developing basic legal skills to a high level of proficiency including communication, interviewing, drafting and negotiation.
To develop students' ability to see beyond a casework approach to legal problems by providing opportunities to participate in campaign and education work.
To encourage students to see the law as a vehicle which can be used to protect and develop human rights.

Courses Conducted at KLC

While studying at KLC students develop their understanding of issues of social justice as well as developing interviewing, negotiation, drafting, submission writing and advocacy skills. They are introduced to the fundamentals of office management and explore ethical issues such as how to select potential clients when demand for legal services far outstrips the Centre's ability to assist. In this way students can consolidate their study of the law by practical application. Small group classes and constant consultation with the lawyers provide an opportunity for students to analyse both their roles as lawyers and the role of law in Australian society.

Students also have the opportunity to participate in a student advocacy program. In this program they conduct guilty pleas for clients charged with minor offences in the Local Court. Students are also involved in law reform campaigns, policy work and education services to the local community.

The following Law School courses are conducted at KLC:

Enquires about applications to enrol in electives at KLC should be directed to Student Services on level 2 of the Law Building.

UNSW Faculty of Law

For further information on studying law at UNSW, entry requirements and course descriptions please visit the UNSW Faculty of Law at www.law.unsw.edu.au/.

Teaching Methods

Students attend the Centre for up to two days a week from 9am to 5pm each day. Students are given responsibility for running legal files under the supervision of a staff solicitor. Cases are taken on by the centre for clients who cannot afford a private solicitor and where there is no other source of assistance or where the centre has a particular expertise (for instance in discrimination matters). Students are required to draft letters, undertake legal research, interview clients, draft affidavits, statutory declarations, court documents, letters of advice and attend courts with solicitors and Counsel. Students are expected to use their initiative to develop proposals for action to be taken on files in conjunction with the responsible solicitor. Students are responsible for responding to public enquiries for assistance and providing effective referrals to other sources of legal and non-legal assistance.

Practical Legal Training at Kingsford Legal Centre

During university semester 30 students attend the Centre as part of their clinical legal education courses. Accordingly, KLC runs a very limited PLT program during breaks between semesters. We only take on 2 to 3 students at a time and these students must have completed one of our clinical courses.

PLT students work with KLC solicitors on client files covering a wide range of civil law matters. The role of these students encompasses interviewing clients, drafting of letters and legal documents, research and in some cases, advocacy. Students also have the opportunity to work on law reform and policy projects. KLC conducts advice evenings twice a week from 6pm to 9pm and students will be expected to attend some of these sessions. All PLT students are rostered on to manage the front office for a day and half of each week of their time with us. This role is an important one for the Centre and gives students the opportunity to learn about dealing with a large number of potential clients as well as an insight into the whole community sector.

To apply, fill in the Application to do Practical Legal Training and return it to the Centre. Please also provide us with a copy of your CV. Applications without both the completed application form and CV will not be considered. Your application will be considered by our staff and you will be advised of our decision shortly thereafter. KLC's ability to take on PLT students is limited by its resources so we recommend that you also consider applying at other community legal centres, Legal Aid and law firms.

For more information email the centre at legal@unsw.edu.au

Further Information on Studying at KLC

A guide to CLE courses offered by Australian universities
Clinical Legal Education Guide (2009)

Survey of KLC Alumni (2008)
A report on the results of a survey of KLC alumni undertaken in 2008

Guide to Indigenous Legal Education (2004)
A resource for prospective Indigenous law students who wish to familiarise themselves with the programs, courses and/or support that are offered by Australian law schools. The information in this guide was correct as at November 2004.

Need Help in Court?

This brochure outlines the service provided by KLC whereby students under strict supervision, appear for clients who are pleading guilty to minor criminal charges at Waverley Court.

Educating Tomorrows Lawyers
An outline of the clinical legal education program at KLC.