Work Integrated Learning

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The QUT Law Faculty offers a number of work integrated learning (WIL) subjects. These subjects provide QUT law students with a range of work based learning opportunities that combine work place activities with academic learning, assessment and support. WIL subjects are designed to assist students in their transition to practice and in developing life long learning skills. The WIL subjects offered by the Law School are:

• JSB980 Professional Placement (School of Justice)
• LWB413 Parliamentary Internship
• LWB420 Internship
• LWB421 Learning in Professional Practice
• LWB422 Virtual Law Placement
• LWB456 Legal Clinic (Organised Program)

A legal placement subject (LPP118) is also incorporated into the Legal Practice Unit run by the faculty.

Further information is available on our web site for legal practitioners who would like to be involved as supervisors in this leading edge educational opportunity.

JSB980 Professional Placement

JSB980 Professional Placement offered in the School of Justice enables high achieving students (with a GPA of 5.0 or above) and in their final year of study, an opportunity to undertake work experience in a justice related organisation or government agency as a unit that counts towards the JS31 Bachelor of Justice program.  Students who meet the criteria for JSB980 Professional Placement should indicate their intention initially by enrolling in the unit.  As there are a limited number of work placements enrolments are closed following the first census date of Semester 1 and interested students should enrol as early as possible prior to this date. Before the commencement of Semester 2, the Academic Supervisor conducts interviews with potential students, discusses legal obligations, organises preferred workplace organisations, and negotiates the Professional Placement Contract between the student, Host organisation and the Unit Coordinator on behalf of QUT.   Interested students should contact the Unit Coordinator, Dr Sharon Hayes (s.hayes@qut.edu.au) or contact the School of Justice on Ph (07) 3138 7132 or email lawjs_enquries@qut.edu.au.

LWB413 Queensland Parliamentary Internship Program

LWB413 provides students with the opportunity to learn about the workings of the Queensland Parliament and to undertake a piece of research of interest and use to a member or senior officer of Parliament. This unit is for final year students only. Enrolment into this unit is subject to approval by the unit co-ordinator. LWB413 is offerend in semester two. Intending students should contact John Pyke (j.pyke@qut.edu.au).

LWB420 Internship

LWB420 provides students with the experience of working in a public sector legal office. A significant proportion of law graduates now enter the workforce as employees of government, government agencies, government owned corporations and non-government organisations as opposed to private practice. This unit therefore provides students with the opportunity to apply legal skills and knowledge in a real world public sector or public interest learning environment. Placements in LWB420 are organised by the QUT Law School. LWB420 is offered in semester one. Applications for enrolment in LWB420 should be made using the form available on the QUT Law Faculty web site at http://www.law.qut.edu.au/study/forms.jsp#law.

LWB421 Learning in Professional Practice

LWB421 enables law students to build on their studies through direct application of legal skills and knowledge in a real working environment in the private legal sector. The unit will assist students in their transition to professional practice and in developing life long professional learning skills. Students who enrol in LWB421 will organise their own placement in a private legal professional office. LWB421 is offered in semester two. Students should secure their own placement well before the commencement of semester and must follow the specified enrolment process.

LWB422 Virtual Law Placement (VLP)

LWB422 provides law students with an opportunity to work in one of the diverse range of working environments that are now available to law graduates, including international work placements. Students will apply legal knowledge and skills to complete a real world workplace project in a team, using online communication technologies to enable students to be virtually, rather than physically, present at the workplace and to engage with the other participants in the workplace, including the workplace supervisor of the virtual placement. Students will also have the opportunity to learn about the most effective methods for applying for a professional legal position, including how to prepare a resume, write a covering letter and address selection criteria, where relevant given the nature of the workplace. LWB422 will be offered in semester two.

For 2008, places in LWB422 will be capped at 40 students. To be eligible to enrol in the unit, you must have completed 192 credit points of law units. Preference will be given to those students who have not previously completed the units LWB421, LWB420, LWB456 or LWB413. Generally places will be allocated within the quota on the basis of merit as determined by GPA in law units. If you wish to undertake this unit you must register your name with the Undergraduate Administration Officer by e-mailing law_enquiries@qut.edu.au by no later than 5pm Monday May 12 2008.

LWB456 Legal Clinic (Organised Program)

LWB456 enables students to examine the interaction between the ‘legal system’ on the one hand and individuals and groups in the community on the other hand. The unit does this by providing students with a placement for a day a week over a semester with Legal Aid Queensland, Prisoners Legal Services of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation (QEA) for Legal Services. Places are limited. LWB456 is offerend in semester two.

Any student wishing to undertake this unit must register their name with the Law School by emailing law_enquiries@qut.edu.au by no later than 5pm Thursday 24 April 2008.