Legal Internship

Description

This is a skills course in which 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.

(*If the proposed host is outside New Zealand’s borders, a written application, indicating the name and type of organisation; their main functions; the role the intern will have, and a contact person in the host organisation, must be submitted to the UC Law Internship Committee before attempting to register.)

Internship Options
There are a number of internship options, namely:
•  Volunteer or compensated employment in any business, doing work with a legal focus or a component having a legal focus;
•  Volunteer or compensated employment in any law firm, doing work with a legal focus;
•  Volunteer or compensated employment in any NGO, doing work with a legal focus or a component having a legal focus;
•  Volunteer or compensated employment in any government department or agency, doing work with a legal focus, or a component having a legal focus;
•  Volunteer or compensated involvement in any other organisation approved by the Dean, doing work with a legal focus, or a component having a legal focus;
•  Volunteer or compensated involvement in special project approved by the Dean, doing work with a legal focus, or a component having a legal focus;
•  Volunteer or compensated participation in any approved exchange programme with a legal focus, or a component having a legal focus;
•  Volunteer or compensated employment in an approved court case, doing work with a legal focus, or a component having a legal focus;
•  Volunteer or compensated participation in any approved internship under the auspices of the UC Clinical Legal Studies Programme;
•  Any other service with a legal focus, or a component having a legal focus approved by the Dean on application.

Minimum of 48 Hours:
The type and duration of each internship will be determined by the needs of the host organisation, but a minimum of 48 applied working hours is a requirement for all internships. Typically internships will require a time commitment in excess of the minimum of 48 hours.

Applying to Complete Internships Before Registration for the LAWS382 Course:
Students may apply for approval to complete the internship requirement prior to registering for the course. This application must be in writing, addressed to the UC Law Internship Committee, and must include the name and type of organisation; their main functions; the role the intern will have, and a contact person in the host organisation. Students who receive permission to commence their internships prior to registering for the course must keep a detailed journal of their internship experiences during the period of the internship (as per the course handbook). The Self-reflection paper will then be based on the journal kept. However, the Essay and Self-reflection paper must be submitted during the period of registration (to meet the course’s academic requirements).

General Application Requirements:
Students applying for this course are required to provide a short CV and covering letter, indicating the details of their proposed internship. These details must include the name and address of the proposed host organisation; the email address and phone number of a contact person in the host organisation, the nature of the host’s business; the nature of the applicant’s proposed duties, and the proposed period of time allocated to the internship.  

Queries, Submission and Contact Details
All applications must be submitted via email to:
Mrs Heather Couch:  heather.couch@canterbury.ac.nz
Due Date:  by 5pm, Monday 18 September 2017 (applications after this date are unlikely to be accepted).

Any queries about this programme may be directed to Professor Robin Palmer (robin.palmer@canterbury.ac.nz), or  tel 369-3812, ext 93812; mobile: 0211552968