1. University Law Schools and CLCs: Partnering in the Public Interest
John Littrich
Senior Lecturer, School of Law
Faculty of Law, Humanities & the Arts
Deputy Chair, Illawarra Legal Centre

2. Law Schools & Law Students
Currently 38 University Law Schools in Australia.
13 Law Schools in NSW.
Law students looking for experience on a number of reasons:
- mandatory component of subject or degree
- to count to PLT requirements - admission
- to build CV, employment opportunities
- discern career paths
Many have a desire to gain experience and promote social justice.
UOW mandatory internship requirement – students must spend 20 days in a legal workplace (organised by or pre-approved by Law School) under supervision of practising lawyer. Set objectives, reflective journal. Firms, Legal Aid ALS, CLC’s (IARC, RACS), barristers, Judges, Magistrates, Govt and in-house corp and NFP.

3. Law Schools & Law Students
Many universities have great clinical legal education (CLE) programs – Evans et al (2017) identify 5 different CLE models in Australia including In-house live client clinics; external live client (agency) clinics and externships (internships & placements).
CLC’s significantly involved in CLE.
Clinics expensive & resource heavy – many Law Schools and CLC’s unable to support. Externship capacity often limited too.
Many other ways for Law Schools and CLC’s can collaborate and promote and secure student interest in social justice while also mutually benefitting.
Want to talk about some alternatives we’ve pit in place at UOW.

4. UOW - ILC - PIAC UOW Law and Illawarra Legal Centre
- Student interns (limited capacity)
- Thursday advice night roster
- student volunteers for special projects
- student casual employment
- Staff on management board
- UOW Law & ILC both limited resources
UOW Law and PIAC
- student participation in Practising in the Public Interest (PIPI) course (Law School pays for 8 x selected students each year).

5. LLB 324 Public Interest Law
Developed 2010
For credit subject – 8 students only.
Students do the PIPI course and are then matched up by Law School with a community group/NFP or CLC.
They work on a project with that group for 6-8 weeks –
eg research legal issue; help with law reform or govt. submission; help research & produce material (fact sheets, brochures) or CLE seminars; help with compliance issues Supervised by academic coordinator.
PIPI – one week intensive – 3 days seminars and 2 days of placements – public and private Pro bono providers
PIPI gives the theory and understanding of PIL and systems advocacy – these are further discussed/explored in class
Project becomes major piece of assessment – specific example – Waminda Women’s Health plain English brochure; Indigenous Fishing Rights

6. LLB 324 and ILC
ILC has been a partner in numerous LLB 324 Projects since commencement, eg
- Young people and work and development orders project; “Searching Questions” – Access to on-line information for disadvantaged people.
- Multi-university and CLC study into criminalisation of poverty.
Public interest projects, volunteering opportunities NOT part of LLB 324 are promoted to students under our Community Outreach Service Learning (COSL) program (not for credit).
Regularly advertised via Web page, facebook, , flyers.

7. Securing a just future
Collaborative projects between Law Schools and CLC’s beyond clinics and internships,
- Low costs for participants – can save costs for CLC’s
- Short or longer term, no set attendance pattern
- Not same supervision requirements as clinic/internship
- Work experience generally covered by University insurance.
- Student and institution interest
Helps CLCS deliver their core services, enhances university community engagement helps students get experience and enhances sense of social justice - plants seeds for future.
Such collaborations important and useful in an era where funding is uncertain. Get to things that you otherwise can’t get to.
Encourage CLCs and Universities (if haven’t already) to engage with each other to explore possibilities. Doesn’t have to be complex.

8. John Littrich Senior Lecturer School of Law University of Wollongong
Thank you.
John Littrich
Senior Lecturer
School of Law
University of Wollongong