How to apply for a Law WIL program

This page outlines how to express interest and apply for the following approved WIL programs:

Community Legal Internship (MLL351)
Deakin Law Clinic (MLL420/MLJ739).

Application steps

When applications are open, you must complete a short application form, ranking your preferences from the WIL programs available in that trimester. Ensure you review the program locations and compulsory attendance schedules, and only preference programs you can fully commit to.
After applications close, shortlisted students will receive a program offer via email and the offer must be accepted within the timeframe provided.
The WIL Team will enrol you in the corresponding WIL unit 2–3 weeks prior to the start of trimester. You cannot self-enrol in advance.

Key dates

Recruitment for these programs occurs up to 3 months in advance to the programs commencing.

Event	T1 2026	T2 2026	T3 2026
Applications open	28 November 2025	27 March 2026	31 July 2026
Applications close	11 January 2026	3 May 2026	6 September 2026
Application outcomes announced	6 February 2026	29 May 2026	2 October 2026

Applications for T2 2026 are now CLOSED. To join our mailing list and be notified when applications for Trimester 3 2026 are open, please click the below link.

EXPRESS INTEREST

Frequently asked questions

How many offers will I receive? Shortlisted students will only receive one offer to do a WIL program per trimester. You will not receive multiple program offers.

Can I postpone my offer? Offers cannot be postponed. If you decline the offer, you will be required to apply again in a future trimester.

What if I cannot commit to the program schedule or if I am away for some of the dates? We recommend declining the offer. Attendance is compulsory and absence can lead to being fired from the program and failing the unit.

Why doesn’t the program schedule appear on my Star timetable? WIL Programs are not classes and must be treated like real world professional placements or work experiences. The scheduled hours will not appear on your STAR timetable.

Can I complete the program in my own time? No, these programs run to trimester dates and in particular Deakin Law Clinic has strict scheduled hours you must attend and actively participate in. This includes ‘online’ programs which are run in real-time only – your live attendance is required.

If I get scheduled to an on-campus program, can I join remotely? No, on-campus programs are delivered face-to-face only and your physical attendance is required.

What assessments are involved? Every WIL unit has unit-based assessment tasks with various submission dates. Review the unit site for details.

Who are my key contacts? Your Unit Chair/Unit Team can be contacted for unit-based and assessment questions.