National Justice Project (LAW4811)
The National Justice Project Clinic provides students with a unique opportunity to undertake a work placement at a university run in-person legal clinic focusing on the dynamic and ground-breaking work of the National Justice Project which aims to end systemic discrimination in Australia through strategic litigation, innovation, education advocacy and outreach.
Students will work under the close supervision of a lawyer-teacher on real world active social justice matters, including casework, research and advocacy projects.
In 2026, the Clinic will also participate in a pilot complaints clinic supporting the community to use the AI powered complaints tool “Hear Me Out” (HMO).
Students will work in small groups, and in some cases provide direct client assistance with complaints utilising the HMO tool.
HMO is currently operating in New South Wales and Victoria providing information about complaint avenues and allowing users to describe what happened in their own words and receive tailored guidance on where to complain, what their rights are, and how to take action, including a complaint writing tool.
Students may have the opportunity to contribute to:
- research and drafting of submissions, letters and briefs;
- assisting with chronologies and legal research; and
- assisting clients in utilising the HMO tool to identify complaint pathways and prepare a complaint as well as any follow-up required.
Students may also have the opportunity to work on projects from active cases, research and advocacy projects of National Justice Project from their key project areas including work on:
- Refugee Justice: Offshore Detention Cases;
- Death in Custody Coronial Inquests;
- Aboriginal Health Justice;
- Police, Prisons & Youth System Reform;
- Disability Justice;
- Climate Justice;
- Out-of-home care; and
- Justice System Reform
Modules presented by the lawyer-supervisor will provide students with the knowledge and skills required to participate in a clinical legal environment including but not limited to ethical, trauma informed and reflective practice, research and drafting skills, casework, file management, the HMO online tool, and working directly with clients as well as introduce them to social justice issues and aspects of public interest law.
The National Justice Project Clinic aims to deliver the highest possible standard of legal and advocacy services while maintaining its focus on educational opportunities. It will also provide an exceptional opportunity for students to experience more practical-focused units and develop the skills needed to work in the social advocacy sector, framed in terms of real-life case studies.
Students will be supervised by Melbourne based Solicitor Steven Castan, Board Director of the National Justice Project with the caseload provided from the National Justice Project and its team of dedicated lawyers and advocates led by its CEO George Newhouse.
About the National Justice Project
The National Justice Project is a proudly independent not-for-profit human rights law firm and civil rights servicethat fights for justice, fairness and inclusivity by tackling systemic discrimination through the power of strategic legal action, innovation, education and advocacy.
Together with our clients and community partners, we work to create systemic change and we strive to amplify the voices of communities harmed by government inaction and discrimination.
We advocate for law reform, policy change, attitudinal change, improved services, community awareness and a justice system that is fair, just and equitable for all Australians.
Find out more at https://justice.org.au/.