Universities have been key partners of QPILCH since its foundation.
In addition to providing student volunteers, universities can partner with QPILCH in the provision of clinical legal education so that students are immersed in a not-for-profit organisation, exposed to real life cases, and receive guidance from experienced practitioners.
We consider clinical legal education a very positive way of increasing students' knowledge and skills and as a way to contribute to the future well-being of the profession in general, as well as providing effective services to the community.
Each clinic operates one day per week over the university semester. The clinics currently in operation include:
- University of Queensland Homeless Persons' Legal Clinic - a clinical legal education subject coordinated by the HPLC, which involves student placements with QPILCH and private law firms, focussing on client casework and research.
- University of Queensland Mental Health Law Clinic - a joint project of QPILCH and the TC Beirne School of Law at the University of Queensland, which commenced in semester 2 of 2009. The MHLC provides advice, assistance and outreach services in mental health law and legal issues affecting people with mental illness.
- Bond University Administrative Law Clinic - a student clinic focused on providing direct legal services to disadvantaged people seeking assistance in challenging government decisions.
- Griffith University Social Justice Lawyering Clinic - a clinic of senior law students who undertake initial research and assessment of applications for public interest referral. Students also assist with QPILCH projects.
- University of Queensland Public Interest Research Clinic - Through the PIRC, students examine issues such as knowledge management, legal training, plain English writing and socio-legal research skills. They are required to undertake a topical group project and present a seminar.
We have previously operated the Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic in conjunction with the Queensland University of Technology and are currently working with QUT to develop our next joint clinic, which is hoped to run in Semester 2 of 2013.
We also welcome involvement by individual students who wish to volunteer or do an internship or professional placement subject.
Other opportunities
If you would like to talk to us about a student clinic idea, please contact us.