Clinical Legal Education

Kingsford Legal Centre is a law clinic which is part of the Faculty of Law of the University of New South Wales. The Centre provides a clinical teaching environment for law students and social work law students.

It is one of over 36 community legal centres in New South Wales and students work with centre lawyers in acting for members for the local community who cannot afford private legal assistance.

The objectives and teaching methods of the clinical program are set out in the attached document.

The Kingsford Legal Centre provides legal advice in a wide variety of matters and takes on cases in areas such as:

	domestic violence,
	discrimination,
	housing,
	wills and estates,
	employment,
	family,
	criminal law and
	victims compensation.

The Centre began operations in July 1981. It has four lawyers, one of whom (the director) is a lecturer in the Law Faculty. The centre is jointly funded by the Faculty of Law and the Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales with the assistance from Randwick City Council. In addition, the law firm Freehills maintains the permanent secondment of a solicitor's position to the Centre.


The subjects

LAWS7200 Clinical Legal Experience (Intensive)
LAWS7210 Clinical Legal Experience

require students to work at the Centre and are electives for later year law students. Students can take a subject in either session or over summer. Students:

	domestic violence,
	manage files under the supervision of lawyers,
	take instructions from clients,
	prepare necessary documents,
	undertake legal research,
	assist the lawyer responsible for the matter in the preparation of any Court hearings,
	run education sessions for community workers and the general public, and
	participate in law reform and policy work.

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 the society.

In its community legal centre function, the Centre has been prominent in several areas, particularly anti-discrimination and domestic violence. Students are also involved in outreach legal advice and education services to the local community. In 1994, the Centre became the host organisation for the newly formed Disability Discrimination Legal Centre.