76069 Community Justice Studies

Community Justice Studies fosters vital legal skills. The subject is taught within the UTS Community Law Centre and the Faculty of Law.

The subject is taught in two parts. Firstly, all participants review contemporary literature about the practice of public law within a social justice and community context. Key areas include the ethics of practice, identification of areas of legal need in the community and access to justice. Secondly, participants choose to engage in a public law or community activity from a broad range of options. For example, participants are encouraged to engage in practice-based learning and may elect to further their experience through a relevant work placement. Other participants may develop their writing, editorial and organisation skills by contributing to the e-journal Public Space: The Journal of Law and Social Justice. Students may also prepare community legal education for community groups.

Students in this elective research, develop and deliver plain language presentations or short courses about legal issues for communities. Community legal education focuses on practical law, affecting members of communities in their daily lives, including consumer protection law, tenancy law, health law, domestic violence, dispute resolution, apprehended violence orders, succession, immigration law and other areas.

Research is a critical skill and this subject allows participants to develop policy, analytical and legal skills by completing a research publication such as a law reform submission or submission to a parliamentary committee.

The subject introduces students to the dynamics of law reform and community engagement and fosters an understanding of the practice of public or community-based law by giving students an experience and direct knowledge of the law in practice.