Kingsford Legal Centre’s clinical legal education courses provide opportunities for law students to engage directly with disadvantaged communities about their legal matters. Students learn about the barriers in access to justice for these communities. Students work to empower not just the individual client, but the community's interests as a whole. Clinical legal education at Kingsford Legal Centre is about achieving justice for disempowered individuals and communities while educating and inspiring students.
Just being involved as a student at KLC allows your skill set as a developing lawyer to improve and the Centre provides access to a range of practical legal environments that you just don't get out of class.
Students undertaking one of our Community Law or Employment courses work on real client files for real clients under the supervision of experienced community lawyers/clinical supervisors. They also have the opportunity to work with, and learn from, our volunteers, secondees and pro bono solicitors, who represent the wider legal community. Students are allocated to client files, under close supervision of one of our staff solicitors and are expected to use their initiative to develop proposals for action to be taken on files in conjunction with the responsible solicitor. They 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.
It's been an absolute amazing experience. Thank you for always being so patient and teaching us so much! - It was the best thing I did at university!
Students undertaking the Family Law Community Education Clinic work in teams to develop and deliver community legal education seminars on Family Law and/or Domestic Violence. Students work closely with their clinical supervisor and have the opportunity to do mock presentations to their peers and to staff to fine hone their skills.
Thank you for making me love my law degree? It was definitely the best program/course I have ever experienced here at law school and I honestly think it should be encouraged for all.
A weekly 2 hour seminar is held to reinforce practical learning for all of our courses. The seminar program includes online sessions on black letter law such as Discrimination and Employment law as well as classes such as Law Reform, Plain English and Community Legal Education. All students are also responsible for responding to public inquiries for assistance and providing effective referrals.
Reflection is key to the course. Students are encouraged to discuss the issues they encounter, both informally with each other and in daily student meetings, as well as with staff. At the end of the semester they are required to facilitate a discussion on an issue which has arisen for them throughout the semester.
The learning environment at Kingsford Legal Centre is a very challenging, but very supportive one.
I really enjoyed it here, I found the staff very helpful and friendly, and this place generally has a great culture and environment.