The Clinical Youth Law Program is an elective course. Students who have completed 48 units of LAWS courses are eligible to enrol and places are allocated by quality of application and if necessary ballot.

This is a clinical program based in a community legal practice environment. Students participate in the Youth Law Centre, a non-profit legal service for ACT youth aged 12-25 years. While analysing the various roles that lawyers can play, students will focus on extending legal assistance, social justice and reform - particularly in relation to youth legal needs in the ACT.

The course objectives are to:

• contextualise the study of law and student learning in a wide range of other law courses;
• guide and support students in identifying, developing and applying ethical legal practice skills;
• develop students' critical understanding of legal practice approaches, the roles of lawyers in relation to individual clients and social justice issues; and
• encourage, promote and validate student aspirations to promote access to justice and equality before the law.

The course also explores issues such as:

• the concept of ‘reflective practice';
• the links between the legal framework of legal practice and operating routines that apply to provision of all legal services (duties to client, confidentiality, conflict of interest);
• legal and non-legal problems - implications for practice/service provision of an appreciation of the relevant services and the meshing of non-legal issues;
• interviewing routine - difference between legal information and legal advice;
• legal practice approaches - ‘reactive', ‘proactive', ‘preventative', ‘activist'; and
• tailoring service models to client needs.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. describe and critique how advanced knowledge and skills acquired through the study of law relate to a legal practice setting, assisting individual clients and working for social justice,
2. reflect on their personal motivation for studying law, their goals and career aspirations,
3. demonstrate a reflective and ethical approach, together with the ability to apply broad theoretical and professional knowledge, in performing paralegal tasks,
4. demonstrate substantial improvement in their practical legal skills particularly relating to work routines, communication with a variety of audiences, interviewing, writing, and legal research principles and methods,
5. describe and critique a range of legal practice approaches having regard to the legal needs of individual clients,
6. analyse the predicament of individual clients having regard to the operation of the law and the legal system,
7. describe and critically assess a range of strategies to improve justice / social justice outcomes,
8. identify concrete and achievable ways in which they can promote access to justice and equality before the law,
9. Plan and execute a written research project, with some independence.

Field Trips

During the semester we may visit other legal services, courts and tribunals.

Additional Course Costs

Students are required to travel to the Youth Law Clinic to attend workshops, seminars and to complete rostered days (walking distance from the University campus), and must be dressed neatly on each day that they are gaining onsite experience.

Required Resources

Recommended Resources

• Ross Hyams, Susan Campbell and Adrian Evans, Practical Legal Skills, (4th Ed, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 2014) - a copy of this book will be in the Youth Law Clinic once course commences.
• The Youth Law Centre’s various operating manuals - available to read at the Youth Law Clinic once course commences.
• Clinical Youth Law Online Resources (Online Resources)
• Additional resources provided online for students on the Youth Law Clinical Wattle site

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Extensions late submission and penalties - https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures/extensions-late-submission-and-penalties

Deferred examination: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/deferred-examinations

Special consideration: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/special-assessment-consideration

Penalties for excess word length: https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures/word-length-and-excess-word-penalties

Distribution of Grades Policy: Effective from Winter Session and Second Semester 2018 (and until further notice), the interim scaling guideline applies to all courses in the LLB (Hons) and JD programs. Please see: https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures/grading

Further Information about the Course: is available from the course WATTLE page. Students are required to access the WATTLE site regularly throughout the course for details on weekly classes and any announcements and updates relating to the course.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	ANU Week 1 / Clinical Week 1 Orientation Onsite roster commences	The first Monday of Semester 1 is devoted to an Orientation Day that you must attend. If you cannot attend this day, then you cannot join the clinical programme this semester.
2	ANU Week 2 / Clinical Week 2 Onsite roster continues Orientation continues (including weekly reflective practice and research project planning); may include site visits.	Orientation continues
3	ANU Week 3 / Clinical Week 3 Onsite roster continues Orientation continues (may include site visits)	Orientation continues
4	ANU Week 4 / Clinical Week 4 Onsite roster continues Seminar: Criminal law
5	ANU Week 5 / Clinical Week 5 Onsite roster continues Seminar: Employment law
6	ANU Week 6 / Clinical Week 6 Onsite roster continues Seminar: Family Law & child welfare	First Reflective report due Mid-semester Meeting with course convenor and supervisor
7	ANU Break / Clinical Week 7 Onsite roster continues Seminar; may include site visits
8	ANU Break / Clinical Week 8 Onsite roster continues Seminar: Reflective practice and research project planning	Mid-semester Meeting with course convenor and supervisor continue
9	ANU Week 7 / Clinical Week 9 Onsite roster continues No Seminar this week (public holidays)
10	ANU Week 8 / Clinical Week 10 Onsite roster continues Seminar: Tenancy
11	ANU Week 9 / Clinical Week 11 Onsite roster continues Seminar: Administrative tribunals	Research Project due
12	ANU Week 10 / Clinical Week 12 Onsite roster continues Seminar: Reflective practice and research projects	Research project presentations
13	ANU Week 11 / Clinical Week 13 Onsite (if necessary) Seminar: Reflective practice and research project presentations
14	ANU Week 12 / Clinical Week 14 Onsite (if necessary) No seminar this week.	Reflective report due

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Onsite Participation Learning and Performance	20 %	26/06/2019	04/07/2019	1,3,4,5,6,7,8
Seminar and workshop attendance and interaction	0 %	26/02/2019	26/06/2018	2, 5, 6, 7
Weekly written reflection	0 %	26/02/2019	04/07/2018	1,2,5,6,7,8
Mid-semester reflective report	10 %	02/04/2019	22/04/2019	1,2,5,6,7,8
Final reflective report	20 %	31/05/2019	11/07/2019	1,2,5,6,7,8
Research Project	50 %	10/05/2019	13/06/2019	7,8,9

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

There are no lectures. Instead students attend orientation workshops, weekly seminars and attend at the Youth Law Centre for one day per week, participate on-site at the YLC. Attendance at all of these is compulsory. The course runs through the mid-semester break. Your availability to attend the orientation workshops and attend all other aspects of the program throughout the semester and in the mid-semester break is a condition of an offer in the course. This was highlighted in the Application.

Student work in this course averages about 12 hours per week consisting of:

·        Reading: averaging about 1 hour

·        Seminars: averaging about 2.5 hours

·        onsite session at the YLC: 1 x 6 hour (9am – 4pm), except those students rostered on same day as the seminar and orientation days who must work equivalent hours to make up for hours spent in seminars, workshops and site visits, and

·        research project: 2 hours a week.

Students are expected to prepare for seminars and to engage critically in seminar discussions. Engagement and feedback in seminars will assist you to evaluate and enhance the quality of your learning in the course, and prepare you to record your reflections in writing.

Assessment Task 1

Onsite Participation Learning and Performance

Details of Task: Students will attend and participate in Youth Law Clinic under the supervision of the Youth Law Clinic coordinator and with Youth Law Clinic employees, including other legal practitioners. In order to complete the task, students must work one rostered day each week onsite at the Youth Law Centre between Clinic Weeks 1 and 12 inclusive (total of 11 days). Each student must work a full rostered day onsite; for most students, the onsite work hours are from 9am-4pm. Student attendance days are noted by the student on their onsite student file which is checked by the YLC Coordinating Solicitor. Late attendance or early departure may result in the student being recorded as absent.

The exception to this onsite requirement is those students who are rostered on an Orientation day or seminar day, who will instead finish later that day to take account of the time spent at the workshops/seminar, and those students who are rostered on the walk-around day, who must make up the hours on a different day. Students who miss an on-site day because of illness, misadventure, seminars, or public holiday will make up that day by swapping with another student, or adding days at the end of the course in Clinic weeks 13 and 14 (Semester week 11 and 12). The student will negotiate this with the onsite supervisor.

More information about what counts as activities towards onsite days and the roster will be available in the course WATTLE site.

Nature of Task: Compulsory, redeemable (against the final onsite participation mark). Failure to complete this task will result in a 0 grade for the course.

Weighting: 20%

Release Date: Commencement of Course

Due Date: Ongoing assessment. Students who are unable to attend on a particular day due to illness or special circumstances should advise the YLC Coordinating Solicitor and Course Convenor. This should be in advance where possible or where that is not possible then as soon as is reasonably practicable.

Estimated return date: Mid clinic feedback during discussions in Clinical Week 6. Final feedback two weeks after Clinic week 14 (Semester week 12).

Assessment Criteria: Onsite participation is assessed using the assessment criteria that will be provided on the wattle site. The assessment criteria will assess the performance of students onsite skills and completion of tasks onsite. The Onsite Skills Checklist contains indicators of good practice tailored to Youth Law Centre onsite work and course objectives. The indicators of good practice are not weighted and will not be marked individually. Indicators of good practice, tailored to onsite work at the Youth Law Centre in the light of course objectives, include;

• Office approach: Office procedures, phone answering & information gathering including file management
• Contribution to client interviews including pre-interview preparation               
• Approach to client matters – planning and strategy, analysis of client issues and identification of relevant law/next steps
• Conducting follow-up client work including problem solving skills - analysis of options/actions required, research skills e.g. initiative, efficiency, thoroughness
• Non-client work (if relevant) as assigned by the solicitors (eg law reform work, community legal education, etc): effort, relevance, efficiency and quality of work carried out
• Initiative with designated tasks - including appropriate balance between the need for initiative against other limitations
• Legal practice standards &approach e.g. Adherence to onsite policy & procedures
• Work relationships including team approach with solicitors, other students, and stakeholders

The mark will be based on the YLC supervising solicitor's overall assessment that is recommended to the Course Convenor.

Assessment Task 2

Seminar and workshop attendance and interaction

Details of Task: Seminar and workshop attendance is a necessary in order to complete the written reflection and research project tasks. A Seminar attendance roll will be kept. Students are responsible for ensuring that their attendance is recorded during the seminar only. Late attendance or early departure may result in the student being recorded as absent.

Seminar, workshop and field trip participation will facilitate, extend and consolidate student learning towards attainment of all course objectives. Seminar interaction will involve debriefing and reflection, case and client analysis, critical analysis, and mentoring. Students will draw on the seminar discussions to complete the reflective report and develop their research project. Students will be allocated to lead seminars each week. Seminars, including the Presentation seminar, will be student lead. This includes hosting guests (if relevant). Students are expected to initiate discussions each week based on their weekly written reflection. The Reflective Report is to be based on these discussions. Students are expected to initiate discussions each week in relation to the development of their research project.

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Failure to engage in seminars will result a mark of zero for the task. Failure to complete the task (including attending all the orientation workshops, research project presentation seminar, and a minimum of 80% of the remaining seminars) will result in a grade of NCN for the whole course.

Weighting: 0%

Release Date: Commencement of Course

Due Date: Ongoing assessment. Students who are unable to attend their seminar due to illness or special circumstances should advise the Course Convenor. This should be in advance where possible or where that is not possible then as soon as is reasonably practicable.

Estimated return date: Release of results.

Assessment Criteria:

• Demonstrate completion of weekly reflection and ongoing preparation of research project;
• Demonstrate developing insight into the role of the student at the YLC and putative future role as a legal practitioner;
• Demonstrate developing insight into the limitations of one’s knowledge and skills, and insight regarding one’s potential and means to address skills & knowledge deficits;
• Demonstrate developing insight into the ways that one’s emotion and other ways of being and related matters affect and are affected by social justice practice;
• Demonstrate developing insight into the functions and purposes of legal aid organisations evidenced by initiating, voluntarily contributing or responding to in-class discussion as well as by the quality of responses to contributions from other students; Engage in discussion that is focused, intellectually critical and respectful, including not dominating class discussions and creating space for others to join; and
• Raise issues or questions associated with onsite experiences, personal research and course materials.

Assessment Task 3

Weekly written reflection

Details of Task: After each student has completed a rostered on-site day, each student will complete a written reflection about the experience of learning during that day rostered onsite, that is, one aspect of the clinical programme. The weekly written reflection will be the basis of weekly seminar discussions which may go beyond the weekly reflection. The weekly written and oral reflection will be basis of the final Reflective Report. This task is designed to encourage you to develop habits in consistently engage in weekly reflection, develop insight into the role of the student at the YLC and putative future role as a legal practitioner; develop insight into one’s the limitations of one’s knowledge and skills, insight into one’s potential and means to address skills & knowledge deficits; develop insight into the ways that one’s emotion and other ways of being and related matters affect and are affected by social justice practice; develop insight into the functions and purposes of legal aid organisations, and raise issues or questions relevant to and associated with onsite experiences, personal research and course materials.

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Students are required to complete a written reflection after every day rostered onsite. Failure to complete 11 weekly written reflections will result in a grade of NCN for the course.

Weighting: 0%

Release: At course commencement

Word limit: There is no minimum or maximum word limit.

Due Date: Ongoing and varies for each student: each week students are required to complete this reflection within 24 hours of completing every rostered day and upload it to the wattle site.

Estimated Return Date: n/a

Criteria: Submission of 11 weekly reflections after each onsite day attended.

Assessment Task 4

Mid-semester reflective report

Details of Task: The Reflective Report is based on seminar discussions and will intensify the learnings from all aspects of the course, by requiring students to consider their on-site experiences, the perspectives and views of clients, other students and legal staff, their personal and professional development and their views on the legal system and social justice. This task will enable you to draw on your on-site and seminar learning to consider issues of social justice, the role of lawyers (including yourself) and the law in social justice, and to critique the law and legal system based on your experiences so far.

Nature of Task: Optional. Please note: Failure to complete this assessment (including appending all weekly reflections completed at the date of submission) will result in the student not having the benefit of early feedback, but also having to complete a longer final reflective report worth 30% instead of 20%.

Weighting: 10% - (if not completed Assessment task 5 will be worth 30% instead of 20%)

Release: At course commencement

Word Limit: 500 words

Due Date: 12 noon, 2 April 2019 via Wattle Dropbox. Late submissions (without an extension) is permitted, although late penalties will apply.

Estimated Return Date: 22 April 2019 via Wattle Dropbox.

Assessment Criteria: Students are asked to demonstrate:

• Capacity to consistently reflect on and demonstrate learnings from on- site practice
• Capacity to develop ongoing reflective habits
• Capacity to reflect on personal strengths and weaknesses that effect delivering legal service
• Capacity to observe and reflect on social justice issues
• Ability to consider different perspectives, possibilities and/or values
• Clear expression
• Analysis

Assessment Task 5

Final reflective report

Details of Task: The Reflective Report is based on seminar discussions and will intensify the learnings from all aspects of the course, by requiring students to consider their on-site experiences, the perspectives and views of clients, other students and legal staff, their personal and professional development and their views on the legal system and social justice.This task will enable you to draw on your on-site and seminar learning to consider issues of social justice, the role of lawyers (including yourself) and the law in social justice, and to critique the law and legal system based on your experiences so far.

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Failure to complete this assessment (including appending all weekly reflections completed at the date of submission) will result in a grade of zero for this assessment task.

This final reflective report is based on weekly reflections and seminar discussions, and will append all reflections completed until that date.

Weighting: 20% (or 30% if no submission of mid-semester reflective report)

Word Limit: 1500 words (or 1000 words where submission of mid-semester reflective report)

Release: At course commencement

Due Date: 12 noon, 31 May 2019 via WATTLE dropbox

Estimated Return Date: On release of course results via WATTLE dropbox.

Assessment Criteria: Students are asked to demonstrate:

• Capacity to consistently reflect on and demonstrate learnings from on- site practice
• Capacity to develop ongoing reflective habits
• Capacity to reflect on personal strengths and weaknesses that effect delivering legal service
• Capacity to observe and reflect on social justice issues
• Ability to consider different perspectives, possibilities and/or values
• Clear expression
• Analysis

Assessment Task 6

Research Project

Details of Task: Students must produce a completed resource for the YLC and/or its stakeholders; write an essay justifying and explaining the resource and establishing the student’s expertise to produce that resource. As part of the essay or within the resource itself, the essay will identify the need for the resource, explain the content and decisions about the form of the resource/s, demonstrate the student’s expertise and authority to produce the resource. More detailed information is provided in the course WATTLE site. In the seminar the week after the task is due (22 May) students must present their project to their peers and other invited YLC stakeholders.

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Failure to complete this assessment (including the resource, the essay and the presentation) will result in a zero mark for this assessment task.

Weighting: 50%

Release: At course commencement. The student must consult with the convenor and seek approval for the project from the convenor at the weekly seminars.

Due Date: 12 noon, 10 May 2019 via Turnitin. Late submission (without an extension) is permitted, although late penalties will apply.

Word Limit: 1200 words

Estimated return date: 26 June 2019 via Turnitin

Asssessment Criteria:

• Demonstrate the need and utility of the resource to the relevant stakeholder audience
• Justify the form of the resource and explain decisions in its design
• Demonstrate the student’s authority (skills, knowledge and expertise) to produce the resource
• Demonstrate legal knowledge and legal analytical skills
• Demonstrate legal and empirical research skills
• Demonstrate good organisation in the structure of their research report
• Demonstrate good written expression
• Demonstrate ability to communicate well with target audience.
• Demonstrate creativity and originality
• Demonstrate knowledge and insight into the social context of the intended audience
• Demonstrate capacity to produce the resource in the form that it was (e.g., artistic, musical, choreography, desktop publishing)
• Demonstrate capacity to produce a completed resource
• Demonstrate oral skills to explain concisely, clearly and simply their research project.
• Demonstrate capacity to produce a completed resource

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students