Deakin Law Clinic
What is Deakin Law Clinic?
Deakin Law Clinic provides legal placement for advanced students of Deakin Law School. Under the supervision of qualified legal practitioners, Deakin Law Clinic offers opportunities for students to build the legal skills that underpin their academic training in one of the following practice areas:
Civil Law
The Civil Law Practice provides legal advice and assistance to clients regarding administrative law and civil disputes. Matters may include:
- Debts and infringements
- Neighbourhood disputes
- Consumer disputes
- Contract issues
- Tenancy issues
- Motor Vehicle accidents (exc. personal injury)
Offered at Deakin Waterfront campus.
Criminal Law
The Criminal Law Practice Group provides services to clients who have been charged with summary or indictable offences, and undertakes appeal work in appropriate cases. Matters may include:
- Driving offences
- Sexual assault
- Assault
- Youth offences
- Breaches of Corrections Orders
- Breaches of Intervention Orders
Offered at Deakin Downtown.
Employment Law
The Employment Law Practice Group provides legal advice and assistance to employees, small businesses and others to navigate the employment law system. Matters may include:
- Discrimination
- Employment documentation and agreements
- Underpayments
- Unfair dismissal
- General protections
- Bullying claims
Offered at Deakin Downtown.
Family Law
The Family Law Practice Group provides legal advice and assistance to clients with a variety of matters. Matters may include:
- Divorce
- Family Violence Intervention Orders
- Parenting arrangements
- Property arrangements
- Property division of de facto and marital
- Consent Orders
Offered at Deakin Waterfront campus.
Policy Advocacy Law
The Policy Advocacy Practice Group develops community legal education resources and takes on policy projects concerning access to justice issues. Projects may include:
- Submissions to inquiries
- Policy papers
- Letters to government
Offered online only.
Students will manage their own legal matters under supervision of the Clinical Solicitors, which may include initial client intake and interview, drafting legal documents, information or advice to final outcome and closing of files (subject to Clinic time limits).
Deakin Law Clinic units are Work Integrated Learning (WIL) experiences worth one credit point each. The units are available in all trimesters and have mandatory attendance requirements and an induction prior to commencement.
Who can apply?
This program is available to Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws and Juris Doctor (JD) students who are eligible to use a WIL unit towards their degree.
Program enrolment
Successful students are eligible to undertake this for 1 credit point and are required to enrol in:
- MLL420 Deakin Law Clinic for LLB students (all practice areas); or
- MLJ739 Deakin Law Clinic for JD students (all practice areas)
In addition to meeting the general prerequisite and corequisite requirements above, students are strongly encouraged have completed, or simultaneously undertake the recommended units below:
Practice Area: | Undergraduate: | Postgraduate: |
| Civil Law | MLL111 Contract Law, MLL391 Civil Procedure | MLJ702 Contract Law and Policy, MLJ708 Civil Procedure, ADR and Policy |
| Criminal Law | MLL114 Criminal Law, MLL218 Criminal Procedure, MLL334 Evidence Law | MLJ703 Criminal Law and Policy, MLJ707 Criminal Procedure and Policy |
| Employment Law | MLL342 Workplace Law | MLJ714 Workplace Law and Policy |
| Family Law | MLL320/MLL408 Family Law | MLJ712 Family Law and Policy |
Policy Advocacy Law | General prerequisites and corequisites | General prerequisites and corequisites |
Preference will be given to students who have already completed the units relevant to the practice area and are in their final year of study.
It is your responsibility to ensure that taking a WIL unit contributes towards your course requirements, and will not prevent you from meeting your course rules. Please contact Student Central if you are unsure.
How to apply
Expressions of interest for T1 2023 are now open, express your interest here.
Places are strictly limited. You must submit an online application and be shortlisted in order to complete this unit. Selection criteria is based on a number of considerations including your preferred area of law, year of study, previous participation in WIL units, WAM, and more. Late applications will not be accepted.
Please refer to the University Handbook for eligibility requirements, including compulsory pre-requisite and co-requisite units.
Key dates
T1 2023 | T2 2023 | T3 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Applications open | 2 December 2022 | 31 March 2023 | 4 Aug 2023 | |
Applications close | 15 January 2023 | 7 May 2023 | 10 Sept 2023 | |
Outcomes made by: | 3 February 2023 | 26 May 2023 | 6 Oct 2023 |
*Indicative dates only
Second round offers and unsuccessful students will be contacted following these dates. If you do not receive an offer, please ensure you enrol in another unit.
Contact us
Email: bl-wil@deakin.edu.au
Telephone: +61 3 5227 8619