Climate Resilience Clinic launches at MLS.

Last week, Melbourne Law School Clinics proudly launched its newest clinical subject, the Climate Resilience Clinic (CRC).

^{From left, Donna Askew, Kate Fischer-Doherty, Dr Brad Jessup}

Developed by Kate Fischer Doherty, Donna Askew and Brad Jessup, the CRC is an experiential learning subject established in response to emerging an unmet legal need in Victorian communities experiencing the impacts of extreme weather and climate change. The Clinic also responds to the Law Council of Australia’s climate change policy call for climate conscious lawyers.

Melbourne Law School Clinics is proud to work with the Federation of Community Legal Centres in developing the Climate Resilience Clinics, and with pro bono law-firm partners.

At the launch, guests from across the legal landscape heard from Emeritus Professor David Karoly of Melbourne Climate Futures, a world-leading expert on climate change, who highlighted the urgent need for drastic emissions reductions.

During Semester 2 2025, the CRC has provided assistance to three community legal centres focused on climate resilience and climate justice, with pro bono law firms supervising students’ work. Through this collaboration empowers students to become climate-conscious lawyers, while also contributing their time and skills to CLCs’ research, law reform, community legal education and direct client work on climate-related legal issues.

Students of the Clinic are building their skills and also supporting resource-constrained community legal centres to provide desperately-needed support for disadvantaged Victorians.

Learn more about the Climate Resilience Clinic ➡️ unimelb.me/46LLLGv