The ANU College of Law's internship course offers students an unparalleled opportunity to put their learning into action and carry out a law-based research project in a legal professional workplace. The course requires and develops both legal knowledge and a lawyer's approach to problem identification, analysis and recommendations.

Internship placements are available within a variety of Commonwealth and Australian Capital Territory government departments, statutory bodies, community legal centres and other non-government organisations. Internships are also available under the supervision of a member of the ANU College of Law. In addition, students may arrange their own internship with a suitable organisation and professional supervisor, opening up the possibility to choose organisations and locations that best suit their future career interests. The professional supervisor of an intern must be a lawyer. Applications to complete self-arranged internships will be approved where they meet the requirements of the course.

Internships are available during each semester and during summer and winter term, enabling students to complete placements in remote locations in Australia or internationally. To assist in arranging placements, applications for an internship are generally made earlier than for other subjects. Full details about the internship course and the application process are posted to the ANU College of Law current students' website.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Identify, plan, manage and execute a substantive and original written research project addressing a complex problem, and do so independently, and to a high professional standard appropriate to the professional setting.
2. Demonstrate persuasive and inclusive written and oral communications skills appropriate to specialist and non-specialist audiences, and a given professional setting.
3. Integrate and apply multiple areas of legal knowledge, skills and professional values gained throughout the JD program.
4. Recognise and apply JD graduate attributes such as, but not limited to: an extended understanding of recent developments in law and its practice; high level research skills; high level conceptualisation; the ability to generate and evaluate complex ideas; legal technical and communication skills; a reflective and ethical approach, and high level personal autonomy and accountability.
5. Reflect on and review key elements of a growing professional and ethical identity by, for example, naming and debating specific interests, interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and career motivations and aspirations.
6. Recognise and apply improved legal skills particularly relating to work expectations, routines, professional conduct rules and ethical practice, in one specific professional work context.
7. Describe, analyse and critique how advanced knowledge and skills acquired through the study of law are brought to bear in a specific way for a particular purpose in one legal work setting.
8. Identify, describe, and reflect on their workplace experiences individually and in collaboration with students and work colleagues, particularly in terms of their own professional growth.

Research-Led Teaching

This course is research-intensive. The primary assessment item for this course is the 4000 word research paper which the intern must develop, research and draft under the supervision of the intern’s professional supervisor and the assistance where needed of the course convenor. The research paper is designed to give students a workplace research experience, and an opportunity to realise the potential real-world application of their university learning. For KLSC interns, the Sub-Convenor has the role of Convenor for all matters with the exception of release of semester results. For all other interns, the Convenor is overseeing the course.

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 current Grading Distribution Policy has been suspended pending the development of a new policy. For further information about this interim policy 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 relating to the course.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Memorandum of Understanding	0 %	02/12/2019	25/02/2020	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Meeting with supervisor to discuss feedback	0 %	21/01/2020	25/02/2020	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Research Project	80 %	27/01/2020	25/02/2020	1,2,3,4,5
Course report	20 %	10/02/2020	25/02/2020	2,4,5,6,7,8,9

* 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. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

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

Subject to agreed supervision arrangements, students should try to consult each week with the professional supervisor. Such meetings are not a course requirement. Students are generally expected to work in a ‘self-directed’ mode; and to write their research paper accordance with usual academic requirements.

There are no formal lectures or tutorials, but it is expected that students will work closely with their professional supervisor and other work colleagues and that these regular interactions between student and supervisors/colleagues will serve similar educational benefits to tutorials, in enabling discussion and problem solving. There will be an optional Law Internship research guidance and information session held prior to the submission date for the Memorandum of Understanding.

NOTE: Students interning off-campus must complete an ANU Travel Approval form in order to be covered by ANU insurance.

Assessment Task 1

Memorandum of Understanding

Details of Task: Students are required to submit a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that is designed to capture the agreement between the student and professional supervisor with respect to the research topic. Students should use the template provided on the Wattle site and can also refer to the examples of MoUs submitted by past students that have been uploaded to the Wattle site. For many students undertaking the Law Internship Course, this will be the first extended research paper that they will have had to write. The MoU will guide this research and form the basis of continued discussions between students and professional supervisors. Careful thought should be given to the research plan, the methodology and the abstract.

Nature of Task: This task is compulsory. Failure to complete this task will jeopardise completion of the research paper.

Weighting: 0%

Release Date: This form will be available on WATTLE in the first week of Semester.

Due Date: Please note, that the dates used in the Assessment Summary in relation to the MoU indicate approximate timeframes. Students are expected to submit this document within two weeks of commencing of their internship. 

Estimated return date: N/A. Students will be notified within 4 weeks of submission if the MoU does not meet the submission requirements.

Assessment Criteria: N/A

Assessment Task 2

Meeting with supervisor to discuss feedback

Details of Task: At a minimum, the intern should have a meeting with their professional supervisor to obtain feedback on the progress of their research.

Nature of Task: This task is compulsory. Failure to complete this task will jeopardise completion of the research paper. This activity also satisfies the requirement that feedback be provided to students before 50% of the course is completed.

Weighting: 0%

Release Date: N/A

Due Date: Please note that the dates used in the Assessment Summary in relation to supervisor meetings indicate approximate timeframes. Students are expected to meet with their professional supervisor by halfway through the internship. If this meeting has not occurred should email and advise the Course Convener, or KCLS Sub-Convener as appropriate, to arrange alternatives.

Estimated return date: n/a.

Assessment Criteria: N/A. At a minimum, the intern should have a meeting with their professional supervisor to obtain feedback on the progress of their research. The intern should refer to the criteria for the research essay in shaping the content of this meeting, and share those criteria with the supervisor.

Assessment Task 3

Research Project

Details of task: Students must complete a research project under the direct supervision of a legal professional in a workplace. Successful completion requires a student to plan and execute an original piece of research, under the guidance of a professional supervisor, to a standard appropriate to a professional setting. The task requires the consolidation and synthesis of theoretical and professional knowledge from multiple areas of law to provide solutions to complex problems, through the exercise of critical thinking, judgement and independence.

The research project may be multi-disciplinary, but must have a strong law element and be of practical utility to the workplace organisation. The research projects have to be stand-alone documents for assessment by academic standards. They must not merely be documents which have been drafted by interns as part of internship work requirements. However, such documents may be used by interns to compile the assessable research paper.

Interns should be aware that if they intend to conduct interviews with people or a written survey as part of their research, they will need to seek ethics permission from the ANU University Ethics Committee. Interns should also read the University’s policy and procedures in this respect at

https://researchservices.anu.edu.au/ori/human/ and also the information on the ethics approval process which interns will find at https://researchservices.anu.edu.au/ori/human/committees

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Non-completion of the paper will incur a mark of 0 for this task.

Weighting: 80%

Release Date: The research topic should be finalised within the first two weeks of the internship

Due Date: 10 am Monday 27 January 2020 via Turnitin with a copy to be provided to the workplace supervisor as agreed in the MoU, and in the manner provided. Late submission (without an extension) is permitted, although late penalties will apply.

Word Limit: 4000 words.

Estimated return date: 25 February 2020.

Assessment Criteria: The project is marked by the Course Convener and KCLS Sub-Convener in accordance with the rubric available on the course Wattle page and taking into consideration the professional supervisor’s comments on the paper. The assessment criteria are:

• Value of contribution to internship host organisation
• Understanding and discussion of relevant law
• Analysis and response to topic
• Structure including logical development of content.
• Research of primary legal (case law and legislation) and scholarly secondary sources.
• Referencing and compliance with AGLC.
• Expression and written communication including use of legal terminology, English expression, grammar and punctuation.

Assessment Task 4

Course report

Details of task: The objective of the course report is for interns to evaluate their learning experience in a written reflection in relation to both of the following two topics.

1. Did the course add to interns’ professional knowledge and professional skills as a lawyer?

2. Did the internship experience lead to professional and personal development and can the intern reflect on and articulate that?

This assessment task requires students to write clearly and coherently about their experience, reflecting on legal professionalism and values, drawing upon ethical approaches, theoretical knowledge and practical experience. These reflections should include a focus on personal and professional identity, ethics, emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, career motivations and aspirations.

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Failure to complete this task will result in a 0 for this task.

Weighting: 20% of the course assessment.

Release Date: N/A.

Due Date: 10 am Monday 10 February 2020 via Turnitin. Late submissions (without an extension) are permitted, however late penalties will apply.

Word Limit: 1,000 words

Referencing Requirements: Citations must follow the current edition of the Australian Guide to Legal Citation 4th Ed.

Estimated return date: 25 February 2020.

Assessment Criteria:

• Quality, Depth of Analysis and Reflection
• Demonstrate personal responsibility for learning and growth
• Clarity of expression

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to 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 be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, 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 Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

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

No hardcopy submission is required and the Turnitin version is the marked version.

Late Submission

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

• 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.

Returning Assignments

Assignment feedback will be done online through Turnitin, or in hard copy print-out of the Turnitin version, returned via the Services Office on notice.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted 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