Melbourne Law School Clinics (MLS Clinics) is the hub for clinical legal education and public interest law at Melbourne Law School.
Through experiential learning opportunities such as internships and clinics, students build their legal skills and knowledge while contributing to the work of our community law partners. Learning by working with real clients to solve real legal problems.
Clinics and internships are an opportunity to experience the law in action. Informed by their work in the clinic, students consider whether existing laws, processes and institutions meet the aims of the justice system, and identify and work towards needed reforms.
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Legal Practice Resource Hub
The Hub contains information and tools to help you plan for and make the most of your legal placement experience. It covers information about your options for undertaking a placement, tools to guide your reflection on the experience and modules to help you build your skills and knowledge.
By completing a Clinic subject, prospective lawyers (law students) are provided with the opportunity to gain practical learning and experience of the law, that goes beyond learning cases from a textbook. Stella Putri, JobWatch Clinic Placement
Impact stories from MLS Clinics
Real work, real outcomes, real careers
MLS Clinics subjects provide students with the opportunity to deepen and enhance their classroom learning, and to develop skills that are applicable across the wide range of career paths taken by Melbourne Law School graduates. However it’s not just about student learning – the work of the clinics also contributes in a real and tangible way to providing access to justice to disadvantaged and underserved clients and communities.
Some of the benefits of a clinical experience:
- Hands-on skills and knowledge that enhance employability;
- Understanding the law and legal processes in context;
- The opportunity to learn from leaders in practice and develop professional contacts;
- A deeper, real-world understanding of legal need in the community and the role of lawyers and the legal profession in meeting it;
- Working with other professionals – understanding the importance of interdisciplinary perspectives and collaboration;
- An opportunity to use your skills to contribute to the community
Through the Legal Internship program MLS Clinics is proud to partner with a range of community organisations, government and statutory bodies that offer placements to JD students.
"We have hosted Melbourne Law School interns at the McCabe Centre for Law & Cancer for almost a decade now, and we’re always grateful for the sharp research skills, thoughtfulness, and fresh perspective they bring to our organisation. Interns make valuable contributions to our work to use the law to prevent cancer and help those affected by it, including by contributing to our publications and resources, conducting research to help us scope our work in new areas, updating our knowledge of particular issues, and supporting us with organising events."
Read about the student experience interning at the McCabe Centre for Law & Cancer:
Interested in becoming a host?
If you are interested in partnering with Melbourne Law School and hosting a legal intern please contact the MLS Clinics Director.