UNSW LAW : Internships - Law Sydney Australia

UNSW Law School encourages students to gain practical experience of the law by offering a range of outstanding Internships which are credited to their degree.

Internships give students an opportunity during their studies to ‘trial’ careers in advocacy and policy areas with non-government organisations (NGOs), social justice organisations, law reform and public interest groups.

Students gain training and practical legal experience beyond the classroom, and a unique insight into future career paths.

The Law School offers 2 internship programs which provide opportunities for students to gain training and practical experience in research, writing and advocacy on aspects of policy and practice relating to social justice or public interest law.

Supervision - Students work under a supervisor during the Internship. For students undertaking the Public Interest Internship program with an external organisation, an academic member of the Law School is also appointed as a supervisor alongside the workplace supervisor.

Credit - Students receive 8 units of credit in their Law degree for successfully undertaking an internship. Student having Internship enrolment from Semester 1 2010 onward will receive 6 units of credit under new academic rule.

Assessment - Assessment is usually based on a reflective journal or notes, a portfolio of written substantial research or briefing papers, submissions and articles, and an oral seminar presentation.

Who can apply - Applications for the Social Justice and Public Interest Internships are open to Combined Law and Graduate Law students who have completed all, or the majority of core courses.

When to apply - Applications open on 2 October 2009 and should be submitted by 30 October. There is only one application period each year.

How to apply - Students complete an Internships Application Form and nominate their preferred Centres or Organisations where they wish to undertake the internship. The application form should be emailed to LAWinternships@unsw.edu.au.

There is only one application form for the Social Justice Internship, Public Interest Internship and the Journal Internship programs.

Where & when can I undertake a Social Justice Internship?
Students can undertake a Social Justice Internship at the following Centres which are based on campus at UNSW.

Students usually undertake a Social Justice Internships on campus, 1 day per week during semester.

Where & when can I undertake a Public Interest Internship?
Students can undertake a Public Interest Internship at a range of organisations which are based off campus. Organisations where students have undertaken their Internships include:

Students can also organise their own Internship at another suitable organisation, however they must first complete the Internships Application Form and be accepted into the Public Interest Intern program prior approval to undertake the internship for course credit must be granted by the Internship Program Administrator.

Students undertake a Public Interest Internship off campus, usually 1 day per week during semester

Enquiries about any of the Internship programs should be directed to the Internship Program Administrator at LAWinternships@unsw.edu.au

Journal Internships offer students a range of opportunities in research, commissioning articles, writing and editing publications.

Australian Journal of Human Rights Internship (LAWS3183)
The Australian Journal of Human Rights is the first academic publication in Australia devoted exclusively to human rights, bringing together scholarships from many disciplines. The student intern is exposed to scholarship on human rights from a variety of perspectives other than law, working together with academics from a variety of fields and dealing, on a daily basis, with submissions from leading thinkers about human rights issues.

Human Rights Defender Internship (LAWS3186)
The Human Rights Defender is a human rights magazine which presents information and comment on a broad range of current issues in human rights. It also seeks to provide a platform for the expression of critical thinking and the discussion of conceptual developments in human rights. The magazine is published three times a year and though it is not an academic publication, The Human Rights Defender has many academic authors, human rights workers and activists in Australia and overseas.

Australian Indigenous Law Review Internship (LAWS3212)
The Australian Indigenous Law Review is a quarterly, peer-reviewed publication providing a broad range of legal information and commentary on issues affecting Indigenous peoples in Australia and around the world. The Australian Indigenous Law Review is primarily an academic publication, although its audience includes practitioners, government departments, Indigenous organisations and other NGOs.

Assessment - Assessment is usually based on a reflective journal or notes during the Internship and successful publication of the journal.

AHR Journal and Human Rights Defender - On campus, AHRC, Faculty of Law, 1 day per week during semester

Australian Indigenous Law Review – On campus, ILC, Faculty of Law, 1 day per week during semester

Who can apply - Applications for the Journal Internships are open to all Combined Law and Graduate Law students in any year of their degree.

When to apply - Applications open on 2 October 2009 and should be submitted by 30 October. There is only one application period each year.

There is only one application form for the Social Justice Internship, Public Interest Internship and the Journal Internship programs.

Enquiries about any of the Internship programs should be directed to the Internship Program Administrator at LAWinternships@unsw.edu.au