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Study of theoretical and practical issues relating to legal services.
The ability of Law students to engage in legal work, and more widely, to be exposed to the business and social environment, as part of their university training is widely recognised as a crucial component of the training of prospective lawyers, entrepreneurs and business people. To cater for this, the legal internship experience may take many forms and is not merely limited to working in a law firm under the direct supervision of a Barrister or Solicitor. In this course, students are given the opportunity to develop expertise in the real-world environment. The essence of the course is learning and applying legal and business skills in the workplace, either as a volunteer or as a compensated intern. Internships may be served anywhere in New Zealand, or, with the approval of the School of Law, at an approved host outside New Zealand's borders. (On application, internships completed prior to the commencement of the course may also be approved). Under guidance of academic staff, students are expected to seek out their own internship opportunities. There are also a number of structured internship opportunities students may apply for, like the annual Police Prosecution Internship over December/January in Christchurch; the Washington Internship in the USA, also over December/January, and a new proposed internship in Refugee and Immigration Law at the Harvard University Law School (inception subject to Covid19 travel relaxations).Enquiries in relation to the LAWS382 Legal Internship course should be directed to either Professor Robin Palmer, Internship Director (robin.palmer@canterbury.ac.nz) or Tania Gaskin, Internship Coordinator (tania.gaskin@canterbury.ac.nz).
The objectives of this course are:To provide a gateway between the theoretical and abstract study of law and its more practical application in the practice of law; its application in business settings, and its impact on the community (especially with relation to access to justice issues);To train students on the basic elements of professional conduct and behaviour;To enable students to appreciate the influence of law and legal concepts within a wider social, business and professional environment;To stimulate a critical awareness of the functioning of law and its place with society;To develop basic skills of self-analysis, based on effective self-reflection techniques;To equip a student with the ability to utilise academic research in a 'real world' setting.To assist a student to acquire a range of new skills and knowledge, and to develop the ability to assess how the internship experience impacts of their personal and professional value-systems.
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:
Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award
Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.
Employable, innovative and enterprising
Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.
Biculturally competent and confident
Students will be aware of and understand the nature of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, and its relevance to their area of study and/or their degree.
Engaged with the community
Students will have observed and understood a culture within a community by reflecting on their own performance and experiences within that community.
Globally aware
Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.
Subject to approval of Head of School.
LAWS202-LAWS206
There will be regular seminars held for this course. Information on the first seminar will be provided in due course. Subsequent dates will be advised by Prof Palmer at the first seminar.
Robin Palmer
Tania Brixton
Assessment will be confirmed in the first week of lectures. It is likely to consist of:a research report, self-reflection report, internship self-assessment form and a performance assessment by the host.
Domestic fee $831.00
International fee $4,200.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Faculty of Law .