UNSW Handbook Course - Special Elective: Hong Kong Refugee Law Clinic

Special Elective: Hong Kong Refugee Law Clinic - LAWS3971


	Faculty: Faculty of Law
	School: Faculty of Law
	Course Outline: See below
	Campus: Kensington Campus
	Career: Undergraduate
	Units of Credit: 12
	EFTSL: 0.25000 (more info)
	Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 4
	Enrolment Requirements:
	Currently enrolled in a program in the Faculty of Law.
	CSS Contribution Charge:Band 3 (more info)
	Tuition Fee:See Tuition Fee Schedule
	Further Information: See Class Timetable

Description

The Hong Kong Refugee Law Clinic is offered to law students at University of New South Wales in partnership with the Hong Kong Refugee Advice Centre (HKRAC). HKRAC provides general advice and legal aid to asylum-seekers and refugees in Hong Kong. The Clinic provides law students the opportunity to learn both the theory and practice of domestic and international refugee law under the direct supervision of HKRAC’s Head of Clinical Programs. Students are given substantial responsibility in the provision of legal advice and representation to HKRAC’s asylum seeker clients applying for refugee status before the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The Clinic course takes place in Hong Kong throughout University of New South Wales’ summer semester (U1B). Students will be required to attend 4-6 hours of classes in Sydney before travelling to Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, the Clinic will begin with an intensive compulsory two-day training conducted by HKRAC. Four students will be selected to participate in the course. The course will run in Hong Kong for 8 weeks, beginning on 13th December 2010 and concluding on 11th February 2011. Students will be expected to work at the Clinic during business hours Monday to Friday each week, excluding the Chinese New Year break and other public holidays. Students receive 12 units of credits for the course.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

Prior completion of a refugee law elective is desirable but not essential.

Course Objectives

The Clinic is intended to fulfil five main objectives:

To instruct students in the theory and practice of domestic and international refugee law
To give students an opportunity to develop and apply their professional skills and professional ethics
To encourage critical analysis of the law, the legal system, clients’ place in the legal system and the lawyer’s role, particularly in an international context
To provide service for unmet legal needs of vulnerable members of the community
To cultivate a pro-bono ethic and long-term commitment to public service

Assessment

Students are graded for this subject - Pass, Fail, Credit or Distinction.

HKRAC will assess students based on the following factors:

Weekly Seminar: Students are expected to consistently attend weekly seminars and actively participate in the seminars, which include:

1. Role-playing exercises
2. Presentation of client casework
3. Discussion about case strategy and research
4. Discussion about assigned readings
5. Interviewing skills exercises

Students are expected to write regular reflection pieces, which consider the skills they have learned, the issues they have faced and their observations. Each student meets with the HKRAC Head of Clinical Programs at the end of the semester for an evaluation of the student’s performance. Students are expected to give a thoughtful written analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the course and of their own experience.

Clinical Work: The following elements are considered in evaluating a student’s clinical work:

1. Professionalism, attentiveness and responsibility to client and case
a. NOTE: Students are expected to arrive to client appointments five minutes prior to the scheduled appointment time. If a student arrives late to an appointment, the student will not be allowed to enter that appointment. If a student arrives late to three appointments, the student will not be allowed to continue in the course and will not receive any credit for the course.

2. Quality of written work, including intake reports, client testimonies, legal briefs and research memos

3. Development of legal and factual research

4. Preparation for and performance at client interviews

Course Texts

To be advised