Reflection I (10%): Students will be required to prepare a reflective piece relating to their expectations of undertaking Public Interest Law Clinic, and the strengths and weaknesses they believe they bring to it.  The maximum word limit is 500 words. The due date 4pm on 3 March 2023.

Research proposal and bibliography (0%):Your proposal should include the following: a succinct statement of the research topic; a brief overview of what you plan to cover and/or your tentative thesis; a preliminary bibliography. The sole purpose of this is to demonstrate that you can identify enough material for your paper. Most important to include are resources you have identified that will allow you to explore the practical aspect of your topic (for example, the campaign or case study on which you intend to focus). Many very interesting and successful campaigns/case studies etc may not have sufficient publicly available information for you to use. The proposal and bibliography are due on at 4 pm on 31 March. 

Poster presentation (20%): Students will be required to prepare an electronic poster (A3 size) on an assigned topic related to public interest law(yering), with a maximum word limit of 1000 words. Posters must be submitted on Canvas in Week 8 on Friday 21 April 4pm. Students will present their poster to a small group of colleagues in class in week 11 of semester. Note that while poster presentation is compulsory, students will be assessed on the poster itself and not on their presentation of it.  For this reason, the poster needs to be able to stand alone. Students who have not submitted their poster by Week 11 will not be able to attend class.

Reflection piece II (10%): Students will be required to prepare a reflective piece relating to their experience during the course, both in class and on placement.  The maximum word limit is 500 words. The due date is 4pm on 26 May 2023.

Research Essay (60%): The research essay is an opportunity for you to demonstrate the depth of your understanding of issues that have been raised in the unit, and to draw together theory and practice in relation to the ‘public interest’ sector. It will require you to undertake research in respect of your chosen topic, and enable you to develop your legal scholarship skills in critical analysis, constructing reasoned arguments, and correctly referencing your research. Your topic must focus on an aspect or aspects of public interest professional practice and draw together the theoretical and the practical. That is, you must draw on theoretical literature, and analyse or assess it by reference to practical examples. The maximum word limit is 3500 words. The word count does not include citations in footnotes but does include substantive footnotes. The research essay is due at 4pm on 26 May 2023.

Clinical Placement (pass/fail): In addition to the weighted assessment tasks, students will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis on their clinical placement. Students will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis by the unit coordinator in conjunction with the placement supervisor.  As would be the case in a workplace environment, students will be expected to attend all days of placement unless they have a valid, documented reason for not doing so.  They will also be expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner in respect of matters such as punctuality, presentation, productivity, and collegiality.  Subject to any policies or procedures of placement sites, students at risk of failing to meet placement requirements will be given the opportunity to improve their performance before a fail grade is awarded.

The clinical placement is an integral component of this unit. Students who do not meet the minimum 70 hours may fail the course. Student circumstances and placement supervisor reports will be considered before a decision is made on this basis.

Word Limit Penalty: A piece of assessment which exceeds the prescribed word limit will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment for every 100 words, or part thereof.

Use of editors and proof-readers: The use of assistance in preparing and editing assessment tasks in this unit of study is strictly prohibited. Assistance includes human and automated writing tools (not including spell checking).