Legal centre opens doors to law students

A new clinical placement program will allow Charles Darwin University law students the opportunity to impact on law reforms in the Northern Territory.

For the first time, second and third year Bachelor of Law students are taking part in a pilot placement program at the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) NT in Darwin.

Law Lecturer Ros Vickers said students could interact with interesting clients at the centre, such as local environment groups and Indigenous traditional owners seeking to protect the environment.

Ms Vickers said students would have opportunities to observe sacred site court litigation cases or respond to or make policy submissions on general environmental issues.

“Students will gain general exposure to a real legal office, and get a chance to enhance their client skills and provide some real legal experience,” Ms Vickers said.

“This is also an excellent opportunity for the CDU School of Law to make links with the local law community.”

Ms Vickers said the placement would help students gain practical knowledge about the profession, and develop positive career pathways by networking at EDO.

Bachelor of Law student Jared Ivory said he looked forward to gaining general legal experience and working on EDO projects at the placement.

“These kinds of programs are what prepare you to become a real lawyer,” he said.

Students at the placement will be supervised by EDO Principal Lawyer David Morris, who will also give a lecture to CDU environment and planning law students on public interest litigation.

The semester-long placement program has been funded by CDU’s Innovation@CDU-SAF 2014 grant.