Unit of Study LAWS2004 Paralegal Placement (2025)

Unit description

The SCU Law Discipline places considerable emphasis on experiential learning that enables students to gain insights and practical skills through completing a period of time working within the legal environment. Paralegal Placement is a unit that aims to help students gain insights into the role of a paralegal in the practice of law and to support their transition to working in a law-related work environment.

Unit content

The placement
This unit requires students to complete a 10-day supervised placement within a legal practice environment. Students are responsible for making all arrangements in relation to their placement. If a student has difficulty locating a placement or would like to discuss how they should approach securing one, they should contact the Professional Experience Coordinator on wil@scu.edu.au. Students who are currently working are required to undertake additional duties and responsibilities during the placement. Students should complete the “Use Current Work Application form” on Sonia and provide a learning plan which details the additional duties. This must be approved by the Unit Assessor before the student proceeds.

Once a placement is confirmed, students should complete the Law Placement form on the Sonia database for final approval. Students may NOT commence the placement until approval is granted and confirmed by the Faculty.

NOTE WELL: Any time spent in the placement prior to gaining approval from the unit assessor will not count towards the 10-day time period required by this unit. University insurance arrangements applicable to work experience placements are detailed in the document LAWS2004 University Insurance Arrangements which is located on the MySCU learning site for this unit. Once the law placement form has been lodged and the placement approved both the student and the supervisor will receive a confirmation email. Students must also complete and sign a Placement Agreement with their Placement Supervisor, and provide this to the unit assessor as soon as practicable after they have commenced their placement.

A Law Placement Form must be submitted and approved PRIOR to commencing the placement. Enquiries should be directed to the Professional Experience Coordinator through wil@scu.edu.au.