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What is Work Integrated Learning (WIL)?

Work integrated learning (WIL) is a partnership between students, employers and educational institutions. WIL provides students with an opportunity to build on their legal studies through direct application of their legal knowledge and skills in a workplace environment in the context of a structured educational program which combines work place activities with academic learning, assessment and learning support. WIL subjects are designed to assist students in their transition to practice and in developing life long learning skills. Participating employers will benefit from the opportunity to: screen potential graduate employees, engage positively with the higher education sector, contribute the development of young legal professionals, increase market awareness of their firm’s culture and take advantage of students’ currency of knowledge in the relevant discipline field.

The WIL subjects that involve the private profession that are offered by the QUT Law School are:

• LWB421 Learning in Professional Practice
• LWB422 Virtual Law Placement

Downloadable brochure

LWB421 Learning in Professional Practice

In LWB421, students organise their own placement in a legal professional office in the private sector.

How can I become involved?

Students may approach you to undertake a placement for LWB421 at your firm. The subject is offered in second semester and summer. Placements for summer would need to be completed between 17 November 2008and 2 February 2009 . Prior to commencing the placement students must agree with you on a Placement Plan. The purpose of the placement plan is to set out details of the placement and planned activities during the placement.

Students are required to complete at least 60 hours in your office during the placement. During this time they will also complete a student portfolio and other assessment which is submitted to the Unit Coordinator. You will also be required to complete a Supervising Lawyer’s Final Report. This report does not carry any percentage weight for assessment purposes but is graded on a pass/fail basis only.

Downloadable brochure for lawyers considering becoming involved in LWB421 as a supervisor.

Downloadable brochure for lawyers who have agreed to supervise a student in LWB421.

LWB422 Virtual Law Placement

What is the VLP?

From semester two 2008 QUT law students will be offered the opportunity to participate in its Virtual Law Placement unit (VLP). Given that advances in technology have resulted in radical changes to the nature of workplaces and work practices, the QUT Law Faculty has determined to apply the available technology to offer virtual workplace placements for undergraduate QUT law students. The VLP will provide mutually beneficial opportunities for both employers and students, particularly in cases where a physical placement is not possible or practical, though it will not be limited to those circumstances. 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. The technological platform will provide an appropriate mix of online communication, such as video, skype, discussion forum, online chat, and email, with opportunities for face to face communication where possible and desirable. It is anticipated that the range of virtual employers will extend across the spectrum of law firms, government, industry and community organisations, reflecting the wide variety of employment opportunities which are open to today’s law graduates.

How does it work?

The VLP operates from a commercial learning management system, the Blackboard Academic Suite, from the platform of the QUT website.

Students apply for their work placement position by answering an advertisement in the virtual workplace newspaper after having the benefit of learning support and instruction from QUT Careers and Employment. In preparing their applications students are referred to the websites of their potential employers to explore the public profile and market niche of the particular organisation.

Students are then allocated to their virtual workplace according to expressed preferences and academic merit. The employer may choose to invite students to participate in their employer’s virtual workplace, and give those students a level of access to its technological infrastructure, including the organisations intranet, online research tools, group emails and continuing education and professional development services.

Students will generally work in teams for the duration of a teaching semester (maximum 13 weeks) on tasks set by workplace mentors in each employer organisation.

Workplace mentors will provide feedback to the student team highlighting practical considerations that may have been overlooked in their initial response, as well as comments on the ethical, political and social dimensions of the task which may not have been readily apparent to the students.

The workplace mentors will evaluate the students' performance on the project and give detailed feedback on the strengths, weaknesses and practical utility of the work produced. Students are assessed on the various aspects of their work in the unit according to specified criteria.

Participating students will be advised that this is a non-paid program, though some employers may choose to offer a stipend. 

How can I become involved?

Expressions of interest to participate in this exciting new project from employers are most welcome. Please contact Iola Ternel on 3138 4060 or i.ternel@qut.edu.au.