LAWS5019

Public Interest Advocacy

10 Units 5000 Level Course

Not available in 2014

Previously offered in 2005, 2004

LAWS courses are only available to students enrolled in Bachelor of Laws (LAWS) degree programs.

This is not a traditional law course. It draws upon academic, clinical and student knowledge, skill, experience, initiative, commitment and application to render a practical contribution to justice. Students are engaged in the supervised preparation and carriage of particular public interest cases or projects. From that engagement students will learn about law's techniques, methods and limits in doing justice. Students will also develop lawyering skills such as legal research, analysis and problem solving, fact investigation, communication, counselling, negotiation, litigation and alternative dispute resolution, legal management and the resolution of ethical dilemmas. Classes usually held at University House.

This LAWS 5000 level elective course is offered on a rotating basis and subject to student demand.

Objectives The objectives of the course are to promote and enhance:

1. Knowledge and understanding of legal process and methods;
2. Critical appreciation of legal process arrived at in and through the study, experience of and reflection upon public interest cases and projects, drawing upon relevant theories of law;
3. Knowledge of public interest advocacy processes, techniques and methods;
4. Critical appreciation of the uses and limitations of legal process available to individual citizens and groups to achieve individual and social justice;
5. Development of generic lawyering skills in and through participation in public interest cases and projects. Including such skills as: legal research, analysis and problem solving, fact investigation, communication, counselling, negotiation, litigation and alternative dispute resolution, legal management and the resolution of ethical dilemmas.
6. Development of legal research and writing skills in the context of pubic interest advocacy. Particularly those skills involved in identifying and giving original expression to the legal problems and issues arising from, contained within, or related to public interest cases and projects.
Content The course will consist of supervised participation in the preparation and carriage of public interest cases or projects, the presentation of a seminar and the submission of a research essay.

Public interest clinical work will encourage the development and application of generic and special lawyering skills, including:

1. Legal research
2. Fact investigation and analysis
3. Case management and strategy
4. Client interview, counselling and communication
5. Preparation of draft submissions and reports, including proposals for law reform and draft legislation implementing reforms
6. Preparation of drafts of legal documents, including: letters of advice, briefs to counsel
7. Preparation of drafts of litigation documents, including: documents initiating proceedings, documents in defence, reply, answer, affidavits, subpoenas, and summons
8. Preparation of media strategies and materials and public educational material
Replacing Course(s) n/a
Transition n/a
Industrial Experience 0
Assumed Knowledge LAWS1001A, LAWS1001B, LAWS1002A, LAWS1002B, LAWS2003A, LAWS2003B, LAWS3004A, LAWS3004B, LAWS3005.
Modes of Delivery Internal Mode
Teaching Methods Problem Based Learning
Field Study
Assessment Items
Essays / Written Assignments Research essay related the case or project to which student has been assigned.
Other: (please specify) Clinical - various case management tasks.
Presentations - Class A student must prepare and lead a 1 hour seminar on an aspect of the case(s) or project(s) to which he or she has been assigned
Contact Hours Self Directed Learning: for 130 hour(s) per Term for Full Term
Compulsory Components
Requisite by Enrolment This course is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws and associated combined degree programs.