International Legal Internship

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

This is an application-based subject. Further information and how to apply

A subject coordinator and the potential academic supervisor of the student’s research paper must approve the institution or organisation at which the student intends to undertake the internship.

Location will be dependent upon the arrangements for individual internships.

Successful completion of at least four subjects from the Melbourne Law Masters, at least two of which must have involved writing a 10,000 word research paper

Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.

The Melbourne Law Masters welcomes applications from students with disabilities. The inherent academic requirements for study in the Melbourne Law Masters are:

• The ability to attend a minimum of 75% of classes and actively engage in the analysis and critique of complex materials and debate;
• The ability to read, analyse and comprehend complex written legal materials and complex interdisciplinary materials;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate in writing a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and to critically evaluate these;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate orally a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
• The ability to work independently and as a part of a group;
• The ability to present orally and in writing legal analysis to a professional standard.

Students who feel their disability will inhibit them from meeting these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact Student Equity and Disability Support.

International Legal Internship allows students to gain credit for undertaking advanced legal research and analysis on an approved international public interest internship of at least eight weeks of full-time work in an approved international institution or organisation. This subject is focused on providing students with an opportunity to engage with legal and policy issues in contemporary society through work experience and further develop oral and written communication skills. Students are required to secure and fund their internships personally.

Students are encouraged to discuss their internship proposals with the subject coordinators. Students who successfully enrol in International Legal Internship must arrange a meeting with at least one of the subject coordinators both prior to their internship and upon completion to develop a better understanding of research and the role of international institutions in international law and relations.

A student who has successfully completed the internship will:

• Have detailed knowledge of the institution or organisation where they have undertaken their internship
• Have a detailed knowledge of at least one major legal issue facing the institution or organisation where they have undertaken their internship
• Understand some of the legal, policy, political and organisational/institutional factors that influence the institution or organisation where they have undertaken their internship.
• Have strengthened their understanding of public international law as it is applied in practice;
• Have strengthened their understanding of how law influences international organisations and how international organisations influence the development of law;
• Have strengthened their ability to understand professional legal practice, derived from doing challenging legal work in a practical setting;
• Have an enhanced capacity to identify, develop, employ and reflect upon appropriate legal skills for the workplace;
• Have an enhanced knowledge of a particular legal area relevant to the internship;
• Have increased capacity to engage with public discussion about law and policy;
• Have experienced a range of new opportunities and contacts through doing an internship in a field in which they are interested;
• Have developed a better understanding of the work and life opportunities that are available in the practice of international law;
• Have contributed to the University of Melbourne's commitment to community engagement.

• 500 word organisation report (hurdle requirement) - a post-internship report due two weeks after completion
• 8,000 words of legal writing (100%), the form of which is to be discussed with the subject coordinators and/or the student’s supervisor – due two months after the completion of the internship placement

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.