Student placement initiative Law students gain first-hand experience in community centre

Session 1, 2020 saw the launch of a new partnership between the School of Law & Justice (SLJ), and My Community Legal, Robina, QLD (MCL), giving students a taste of what it’s like to provide free legal services to those who need but cannot afford a lawyer.

Director of SLJ Placements, Associate Professor Jennifer Nielsen said the School’s relationship with MCL has been developing for some time.

“Professor Bee Chen Goh participated in MCL’s early meetings when it was being set up as the Robina Community Legal Centre. Our partnership took on new energy and force because of SCULA’s work with the Centre, particularly that of former SCULA Committee member James EllisSmith. Last year, the SLJ formally joined MCL as one of its university sponsors.”

“This is an exciting development, adding an important facet to the way the SLJ engages with the Gold Coast community and legal profession. It complements the strong links we have already forged with the profession in the Northern Rivers, including with the Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre.”

“Our students have reacted to the MCL partnership very enthusiastically and it has been exciting to see the partnership start so well. Students can apply for a voluntary placement with MCL, and approved applicants work in the centre one day per week, for the duration of a teaching session,” she said.

“Students should treat the placement like a job with a law firm or community organisation. If for any reason students are unable to work, they are responsible for assisting with finding someone to cover their shifts.”

The program was launched just weeks before COVID-19 disrupted all our lives. However, the MCL team worked almost seamlessly to adapt the program to allow online participation by students and, and when allowed, in person sessions with social distancing to ensure compliance with COVID-19 requirements and restrictions in Queensland.

“It was fantastic as it kept our student volunteers engaged. The majority of them adapted well to the changes, just as we are all learning to adapt in such unprecedented times,” Associate Professor Nielsen said. Students echoed this view.

“The remote delivery was a little tricky to begin with but now merely adds a new dimension to the overall learning experience,” said student Hannah Roach.

“The Placement is going amazingly and I am enjoying the experience. Although it is very different in a remote setting from home, the way that MCL has created a way for us to stay involved is great. I have learnt so much from this experience and definitely recommend to other students,” said student Emma Ellis.

Another student, Reagan Darby added, “I am loving my time at MCL, I am really enjoying the experience and I have asked to continue on next semester with the clinic.”

My Community Legal Coordinator Renee Skennar said the students gained valuable skills and enjoyed the experience.

“I have loved having students in the office, and the SCU team have been a very positive addition. Despite the challenges of moving to a remote delivery due to COVID-19, we continued our service and worked with students through the challenges,” Ms Skennar said.

“We have really come to rely on them in the lead up to our advice nights.”

Associate Professor Nielsen said working with Community Legal Centres (CLCs) is imperative to law students as it allows them to gain insight into holistic lawyering and responding to community need rather than a government or business agenda.

“CLCs work on the core belief that everyone in our society is entitled to access justice and to determine their own justice needs and outcomes. CLCs are independent and operate as community-based, not-for-profit legal centres –they are proactive and engage critically with the law.”

“CLCs are immersed in their community and aim to provide a whole-of-client solution by working collaboratively with other community organisations, such as to secure emergency accommodation, social counselling and financial advice. My Community Legal is one of 33 nationally-accredited CLCs in Queensland.”

“Working at MCL – or another CLC – is a way of participating in pro bono public, Latin ‘for the public good’. Pro bono work is a convention for the profession and involves providing legal services without charge to promote acces to the law, human rights and social justice. It dioe snot replace it augments the important services provided by the legal assistance sector (legal aid, CLCs, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services) for people on low incomes or who are marginalised in other ways from the legal system,” she said.

The program now in its second session, has been such a success all students from the first intake have stayed on to continue working as volunteers, some with Supervisory roles, allowing them to make the most of this valuable opportunity.

Story by Kim King and Jennifer Nielsen.

Preparing students for employment with The Practice Professorial Program

Leading law practitioners linking students to practice

In January 2020, The School of Law and Justice launched a Practice Professorial Program designed to facilitate professional engagement and build linkages between the academy and practice.

Director of the Program Bede Lipman said accomplished, respected and successful current or former legal practitioners have been invited to take up pro bono roles and work with SLJ to undertake relevant activities.

“The Practice Professorial Program offers a unique opportunity for the profession to impact, shape and influence the academic life of the SLJ, as much as it affords staff and students an opportunity to engage with and learn from influential leading local, national and international practitioners,” Mr Lipman said.

“The range of activities undertaken by Practice Professors includes research, teaching such as giving masterclasses or taking part in Q&A sessions with student associations, networking and mentoring,” Mr Lipman said.

“We are currently working with a number of Practice Professors to facilitate the provision of guest lectures and all details will be advertised on our website and we have also established a dedicated Practice Professors Learning Site which is available to students on Blackboard,” Mr Lipman said.

“We are very excited to be introducing this program and look forward to enriching students’ learning experiences as well as assisting them in the transition to employment in law and related fields.”

Story by Kim King.

Meet the Practice Professors:

• Ms Clare Owen, (pictured top left), Consultant at Woodsford Litigation Funding and SCU academic

• Ms Joelene Nel, (pictured bottom left) family lawyer, mediator and family dispute resolution practitioner

• Mr David Heilpern, former Magistrate, Litigation Lawyer and Co-founder of SLJ, Southern Cross University

• Mr Mark Carkeet, former partner, MinterEllison, one of Australia's most experienced and recognised energy lawyers

• Mr Adam van Kempen, principal, BVK Lawyers with strong community links in the local area

• Mr Patrick Mullins, partner, Mullins lawyers, Australia’s only canon lawyer

• Mr Lee Aitken, Barrister and academic with strong experience in commercial law

• Ms Julie Granger, Barrister and Council member of Southern Cross.

For further information visit scu.edu.au/law

The mentor program runs during Sessions one and two annually, for further information contact careers@scu.edu.au

Preparing students for employment: Student-Alumni Mentoring Program Connecting students to industry specialists in the ‘real world’

During session 1, 2020, The Bright Futures Mentor Program matched 17 Law students with a high-calibre industry professional, to gain valuable advice and insights into their future career.

Program Coordinator from SCU Careers & Employability, Gina Werner, (pictured left), said the program, now in its 6th year, offers current students (who have completed 6 undergraduate units), the ability to establish a successful mentoring relationships which is reciprocal, respectful and mutually beneficial with the mentor and mentee learning from each other.

“The collaborative project between Alumni and Giving and Careers and Employability assists students in developing industry networks, an important step in their transition from university to employment”, she said.

“This exciting program is designed to match students with alumni in a related industry and provides a learning experience for students that connects the classroom to the ‘real world’.

Ms Werner went on to say mentoring relationships are professional in nature, and facilitate idea exchange between the experienced professional and the next generation of leaders.

“The program involves alumni (and industry) back in the life of the University in a meaningful way,” she said. To apply for this wonderful opportunity, students submit an online application choosing their top three preferred mentors. Matching is on a ‘first in’ basis as well as the quality of responses in the application form. However, if there isn’t a suitable match, I even try to source a mentor so encourage students to apply in any case – no promises though.”

Additionally, Ms Werner said that mentors change each session depending on availability, so students can apply for a different mentor in each program.

“I have had some students who were mentored up to four times, and what’s wonderful, is that some of these students have come back as mentors themselves!”

Fourth year Bachelor of Laws student Jennifer Burgess, now in her second session of the Mentor Program, said being able to have a virtual coffee every fortnight with her Mentor John Keating gave her motivation during a very challenging time.

“I was able to talk with John about particular tasks and roles I could face as a Junior Lawyer, and what the industry may expect from me. He also gave me valuable feedback on what a employer may look for in a cover letter, and how to prepare interview questions and answers, Ms Burgess said.

“I was extremely interested in learning how John practices across two jurisdictions (NSW and QLD), and his firm deals in Property, Family and Commercial Litigation — areas I am most interested in. To get his perspective on these areas of law, and what type of clients he deals with, has been extremely useful in my goal setting,” Ms Burgess said.

“I felt like I was part of John’s team and I could approach him for advice, anytime.”

Story by Kim King.

Research Update from Deputy Head of School (Research), Professor John Page