75411 Practical Experience - 65 days
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 0 cp
Result type: Pass fail, no marks
Requisite(s): ((75424c Skills and Wills Practice AND (102 credit points of completed study in spk(s): STM90688 102cp Core subjects LLB OR 108 credit points of completed study in spk(s): STM90832 LLB Core Subjects OR 108 credit points of completed study in spk(s): STM90831 Juris Doctor Core Subjects) AND (114 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C04236 Juris Doctor OR 162 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10124 Bachelor of Laws OR 114 credit points of completed study in spk(s): STM90691 144cp Law Stream OR 114 credit points of completed study in spk(s): STM90401 Law Stream Combined Degree BA Communication Bachelor of Laws OR 132 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C04320 Juris Doctor Graduate Certificate Professional Legal Practice)) OR 75424c Skills and Wills Practice )
The lower case 'c' after the subject code indicates that the subject is a corequisite. See definitions for details.
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 75425 Lawyers in Practice AND 75426 Practical Experience 20 days AND 94680 Entering Professional Life (6cp) AND 94681 Entering Professional Life (8cp)
Description
This subject covers the skills, practice areas and values required of a law student to be admitted to practise law as prescribed by the 'competency standards' set out in the Second Schedule to the Legal Profession Uniform Admission Rules 2015. The subject assumes an understanding of disciplinary knowledge taught in core law subjects in a relevant degree. Students learn and practise the application of this knowledge through the development of skills and reflection in preparation for professional practice as an entry-level lawyer.
This subject is one of four subjects that constitute the Practical Legal Training (PLT) program. It is a work-integrated subject complemented by the three other PLT subjects – 75424 Skills and Wills Practice, 75422 Property and Commercial Practice and 75423 Litigation Practice.
This subject enables students to bring together the knowledge of legal practice gained in the complementary PLT subjects and to apply their learning in a legal workplace.
Students undertake a minimum of 13 weeks of full-time or equivalent part-time work experience in a legal office environment. This is a zero-credit-point subject that is graded pass/fail. Grading is based on supervisors' reports as to the competency of students' practice in their workplaces. To be competent, students must achieve the standard of an entry-level lawyer.
Students may enrol in this subject when they enrol in 75424 Skills and Wills Practice. Practical Experience - 65 Days must be approved by the Practical Experience Committee and be in accordance with the Practical Experience Rules, as detailed on the Practical Experience Website.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Extend and apply their knowledge and understanding of the law, the legal system and legal practice in a legal workplace. |
|---|---|
| 2. | Demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in legal professional work through the integration of their learning in the academic degree and in the PLT program. |
| 3. | Demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgment, adaptability and responsibility as an entry-level lawyer. |
| 4. | Apply an understanding of the professional and ethical obligations of a legal practitioner. |
Teaching and learning strategies
Practical experience activities include:
Strategy 1: Professional Practice
Students are required to observe and participate in the routines, procedures and dynamics commonly found in offices in which legal services are provided. Students learn about the legal and administrative work undertaken in a legal workplace from their supervisors and other legal and non-legal personal with whom they interact, including clients, lawyers and third parties.
Students receive feedback from their workplace supervisors and co-workers. Students may also seek feedback and guidance from the subject coordinator or the Practical Experience Committee.
Strategy 2: Integrating Legal Principles in Practice
Drawing on legal knowledge acquired in the academic degree and in the other PLT subjects, students are able to build on this knowledge by developing their capacity to identify relevant legal principles in a workplace. Students can also explore their understanding of applying the law by asking questions of their supervisors and other professionals in the workplace and of their clinical practitioners in the complementary PLT subjects.
Students have a real-world opportunity to apply their academic knowledge and practical skills and to witness how their integrated learning applies in a workplace that includes clients, other professionals and third parties. This opportunity for work-integrated learning enables students to be autonomous learners in a professional and collaborative environment where observations of, and interaction with, other professionals is key to being a competent and ethical legal practitioner.
Strategy 3: Blending attributes and skills
Students are required to draw on the attributes and skills developed in their academic and practical learning to undertake legal work under a workplace supervisor. As Practical Experience is work-integrated learning, the six Graduate Attributes are included in this subject to enable students to build on their learning in other academic and practical subjects and to apply this learning in a professional context.
These attributes include researching the law, identifying and analysing legal problems and evaluating options for clients and other lawyers. Students are expected to demonstrate advanced oral and written communication skills and to be able to explain complex legal principles in plain language. As lawyers commonly work in practice teams, students will be expected to demonstrate the use of specific strategies and skills to collaborate effectively. Students may encounter challenges in the workplace that will provide real-world opportunities to identify, reflect on and resolve as required of an ethical and professional legal practitioner.
Strategy 4: Students’ Preparation and Reflection
Students prepare for their placement through the simulated legal work undertaken in the other PLT subjects with a focus on problem solving for clients. Learning is self-directed and encompasses knowledge, skills development and preparatory work completed in the academic degree and in the other PLT subjects.
In Practical Experience, students are required to prepare for contact with clients and other lawyers, including supervisors and to develop personal and professional self-management, including appropriate conduct, meeting time requirements and accountability. This preparation is based on resources and materials, including professional Practice Papers, accessed in the other PLT subjects.
Students have the opportunity to reflect on their development as a professional in the context of the delivery of legal services. Students are able to reflect on their learning and feedback in the other PLT subjects and apply it to the workplace, thereby enriching their practical experience.
Subject Delivery
There is 1 assessment titled "Assessment task 1: Reflective Journal".
The subject is graded as pass/fail. A pass grade is achieved by:
1. Completion of 65 days of practical experience, and
2. Supervisor’s confirmation that the student complied with Rule 2 of UTS:Law Practical Experience Rules (Autumn session 2022 onwards) and experienced the application of legal knowledge and skills to legal problems in all, or most, of the following:
a. Significant interaction with external or in-house clients;
b. Drafting documents;
c. Legal research;
d. Using a file management system.
3. Submission of reflective journal which meets criteria outlined under the Assessment heading.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Reflective Journal
| Intent: | To describe and critically reflect on the activities undertaken during your Practical Experience placement and to assess and consider the impact that they have had on your perceptions of legal practice and the influence on your future actions. |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 100% |
| Criteria: |
|