Experience in Law

[j-awad11]

Hey, I've read all the advice about studying law but I'm just a little unclear on when is a good time in my degree to commence practical training? And can this just be volunteer work at a law firm or is it an actual program? Thanks

[ninwa]

Monash offers a number of elective subjects where you can do practical training AND get credits for it - Professional Practice, Advanced Professional Practice and I think there's one specifically for family law as well - if you go to the Law FAQ thread in my signature I think I linked to some of these subjects so you can have a read of what it says in the handbook.

You could also volunteer at community legal centres - there's a few near Monash (Springvale Legal Service is one) but they are EXTREMELY competitive since everyone wants the experience.

I don't know about volunteering at law firms but I'm sure they'd be happy to take slave labour, lol. If you're lucky you might even find a part time paid research assistant type job at a law firm (again, highly competitive) during uni. It's not great pay ($20-$25 an hour usually) but it's experience.

I think most places (whether law firm or community centres) won't want to take you until after 3rd year. Before then you won't have enough knowledge of substantive law to be of any help really, and you'd probably just end up doing secretarial/administrative work.

After you graduate it is compulsory to do a year (I think) of legal training before you can actually practice as a lawyer

[j-awad11]

Okay in just with that legal training, is that paid or what?

[ninwa]

Which one? The one after you graduate? Lol that's a course you have to take, you pay them to do it

Unless you can get an internship with a law firm, in which case that will also be enough for the legal training requirements

[j-awad11]

Yeah after I finish my undergraduate degree. If I happen to get an internship, is it one of my choice?

[ninwa]

Not sure what you mean... yes, you can choose which law firms you want to apply for an internship at... but most people just apply to every law firm they can because it increases your chances of getting a place

[j-awad11]

Oh okay, that's what I wanted to know haha. So it doesn't have to be a "general practice" type firm it could be specific? For example a family law firm?

[ninwa]

I think so!

3.05 Persons eligible to be a supervisor
(1) A person may supervise a trainee for the purposes of these Rules if the person is an Australian lawyer engaged—
(a) in legal practice; or
(b) as a Government, corporate, commercial or community legal officer—
working principally in Victoria, who has worked as either or both of—
(c) a practising solicitor, or in the manner of a solicitor; or
(d) a practising barrister, or in the manner of a barrister—
for a total of at least 5 years, of which at least 3 years were spent in either or both of practice as a solicitor, or working in the manner of a solicitor.

So it just has to be a lawyer - the rules say nothing about which area of law they're practising in