LAWGENRL 447 : Community Law Project

Law

2023 Summer School (1230) (10 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Participation in and report on an approved project involving at least 75 hours with an approved organisation in a community context, and evaluation of the issues arising therefrom.

Course Overview

All Part III and IV students are eligible to take this course.
The internship should involve a minimum 75 hours of supervised work, it cannot be paid work and it must be in a law-related field with a Law School-approved non-profit, or government entity.
Supervision must be by a legal professional or a qualified supervisor within the organisation.
At the conclusion of the project the student submits a 5000-word report based on the community law work they have undertaken during the project. The report can be counted as a sustained piece of writing for LAW 498. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: LAW 201, 211, 231, 241, 298 or 299 Restriction: LAWGENRL 405

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Laws

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify and communicate personal goals around learning and career development. (Capability 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  2. Engage and collaborate with experienced legal professionals in the legal sector to provide support for the delivery of community-based initiatives. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  3. Under supervision, interact with, advise and support members of the public and collaborate to develop strategies for managing the legal and related challenges they face. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  4. Critically reflect on the place of service, social justice, ethical behaviour and other aspects of professionalism experienced through this placement. (Capability 5.2, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  5. Demonstrate self-awareness around personal capabilities necessary for performing in a workplace and setting goals for self improvement and further learning. (Capability 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  6. Critically reflect and report in detail upon personal learning goals identified at the start of the internship and what was learnt through the process of volunteering. (Capability 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 5.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Early Assessment Task 0% Individual Coursework
Project Report 100% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Early Assessment Task
Project Report

The early assessment task is worth 0% but is a course completion requirement.

Workload Expectations

This is a 10-point course.

The guideline for the total workload for this course is a minimum of 75 hours of law-related community service, plus the writing of a low stakes early assessment task and a final 5,000 word reflective report.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

The internship should involve a minimum of 75 hours' supervised work. 

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

In 2022, in response to student feedback, the course was further developed to formalise an early assessment task and provide more guidance on how to successfully complete an internship and write an effective reflective report.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course director, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a Student Academic and Support Adviser as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 12/12/2022 09:07 a.m.