What counts as professional work experience?

A Professional Experience placement involves a student working for a period usually at least two weeks (or the full 30 days) in a law-related environment. The purpose of this requirement is to enrich the student's formal legal education and produce graduates with practical experience of how the law operates. As well as being a benefit in itself, this will also make the student's university study more meaningful.

Professional Experience placements may occur in any environment in which a student can gain experience on how the law, or the legal system, operates in practice. Placements with a solicitor or barrister; in a public law or regulatory office such as the ACCC, ASIC or Crown Law Department; in a court; or with a police prosecutor are examples. It is not expected that there be any formal instruction for the student. Rather, they are expected only to be able to experience the work undertaken by those working at the placement. In particular, it is hoped that they will be able to experience some or all of the following:

(a) the types of routines and procedures commonly found in the office
(b) the dynamics which are commonly associated with the provision of legal services by the office
(c) the process of becoming a professional.