Class participation (10%)

Class participation will be unstructured. Students will be expected to participate and contribute in each class. Students should demonstrate engagement with readings and discussions by coming to class prepared, having read the assigned readings and reflected on the issues raised. In particular, students should consider their professional responsibilities in their internship placements and how their Law studies have prepared them for a professional placement. Students will be given the opportunity to demonstrate this in class discussions and group work.

Presentation (15%)

Presentations will be held in class on the Friday of Week 13. Students will attend class and present on a topic relating to their internship. Presentations will be approximately 10 – 15 minutes long and students can use resources such as PowerPoint, Kahoot, and Canvas. Alternatively, students can simply talk to the class without visual aids. Students will be able to discuss their topic with the convenor during semester.

Reflection Note (15%)

Students will be required to prepare a reflective piece relating to their experience during the course, both in class and on placement.

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 from your internship experience. 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 22 May 2023 Sydney (Australia Time). Further details will be released on Canvas.

Internship Placement (pass/fail): In addition to the weighted assessment tasks, students will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis on their internship placement. Students will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis by the unit coordinator in conjunction with the internship 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 internship placement is an integral component of this unit. Students who do not meet the minimum 70 hours will 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).