The Melbourne Law School and Victorian Bar Research Assistants Scheme

Transcription

1 The Melbourne Law School and Victorian Bar Research Assistants Scheme Step-by-Step Guide The Melbourne Law School and Victorian Bar Research Assistants Scheme is a collaboration between the Melbourne Law School, the Victorian Bar and the University of Melbourne s central Careers & Employment service. The aim of the scheme is to enable barristers to benefit from the research skills of Melbourne Law School LLB and JD students, whilst providing law students with the opportunity to gain valuable work experience with barristers. By logging in to the site, you will be able to register and search the Research Assistant Database for up-to-date listings of LLB and JD students who have registered their interest in undertaking research on a pro-bono basis for members of the Victorian Bar. Once you have selected your candidate, follow the steps through to register the work placement. Each work placement must be between 40 to 80 hours duration (preferably over a period of no longer than 6 months). A student may undertake research work for more than one barrister provided that the clerk registers as the Employer at the initial registration process. We hope you find the Scheme to be of valuable assistance to your practice. Version 2.1 1

2 1. Access the Scheme from the Victorian Bar website s Members section or hotlink here. Click on Practice and then Research Assistants (navigational bar on left). Log in using your Privacy & Personal Information username and password. 2. Click on Find a Student Research Assistant. Version 2.1 2

3 3. Follow the 4 Steps shown on the next screen. Step 1 leads you to registration as a Barrister or Clerk. Click on the link Careers Online. Version 2.1 3

4 4. Fill in your registration details and press Submit. (This stage is only required once). 5. You now have access to the Research Assistant database. Click on the link to return to search for a Research Assistant. Version 2.1 4

5 6. Select the area of law in which the student is to undertake your research. You can also refine your search by selecting their availability period. 7. The database will provide you with a list of available students with expertise in your chosen area. (NB. Expertise is defined as have either completed a subject in the area, published in the area or worked within the area ). You can sort the list according to the column headings by clicking the drop down arrow. Click on a student s name to view their full application. Some will include CVs. Version 2.1 5

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7 8. Make can make your own notes online, using the text box on the right. You can also tag students to shortlist candidates by clicking Add Tag. This means they are tagged for future reference, and it is not necessary to search the database all over again. 9. Contact your chosen student, preferably by phone. You may wish to conduct an initial interview with the student. Once you have settled arrangements with the student, log back into the Research Assistants homepage Version 2.1 7

8 10. You are now required to register the arrangement as a SWP (Student Work Placement) to ensure that the student is adequately insured for the duration of the placement. Click on Careers Online link. Most of the boxes are already filled in for you (greyed out text). If you wish to add further information about the student s tasks, fill in the Job Description box (optional). Finalise the arrangement by completing the Student Details section i.e. student s name and address. Press Submit. The SWP is now registered, and the student is now able to begin their work placement for you. Version 2.1 8

9 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q. What is the Melbourne Law School and Victorian Bar Research Assistants Scheme? The Melbourne Law School and Victorian Bar Research Assistants Scheme is a joint initiative between the Melbourne Law School and Victorian Bar. The aim of the Program is to enable students to develop practical experience in the legal profession to complement their studies. It also enables barristers to benefit from the highly developed research skills of Melbourne Law School students. Q. What type of tasks are students available to do? Students are available to undertake research work and other duties which will assist them to develop their professional skills. As far as is practical, the student should be made aware from the outset of what the work will involve. Q. How do I find a Research Assistant? The barrister or clerk must first register as an Employer on Careers Online. Then click on the Melbourne Law School Research Assistant database and follow the steps. Q. When registering on Careers Online, does the barrister or his/her clerk register as the Employer? Either barrister or clerk may register as the Employer. If the barrister anticipates that he/she will not be able to offer a minimum of 40 hours work, then the clerk should register as the Employer. This will enable the clerk to source other work for the student to make up enough hours to meet the requirements of the SWP (see below for definition). Q. Will the Melbourne Law School filter applications for me? No, the barrister or clerk should identify the student of interest by searching the Research Assistant Database. Q. Why do I have to register the arrangement on Careers Online? It is essential that the arrangement between the barrister or clerk and the student is registered on Careers Online, (the University of Melbourne s employment database) as a Student Work Placement (SWP) to ensure that the student is covered by the university s insurance policy. Q. After completing the online forms, who contacts the selected Research Assistant to make the necessary arrangements? Once the barrister or clerk has identified a student of interest, he/she should contact the student directly to make arrangements to come in for work placement. Q. How many work placement hours can a student undertake? To meet the criteria of an SWP, placements must hours duration (preferably over a period of no longer than 6 months). A student may undertake research work for more than one barrister provided that the clerk registers as the Employer at the initial registration process. Q. Can any individual student be offered more than 80 hours work? No, if the work experience exceeds 80 hours the student is no longer protected by the University s insurance policy. However, another student may be selected from the program. Q. Am I expected to pay the student? Students understand that this is an unpaid work experience program. However, the barrister may opt to pay at his/her discretion. Click here for suggested rates of pay. Q. If students are not paid for the work, are they covered by insurance? Students undertaking approved Student Work Placements are covered by the University of Melbourne s Personal Accident, Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance policies while undertaking a placement, provided that the above conditions are met and the placement has been registered on Careers Online. Version 2.1 9

10 Q. At what stage in their degree are the students? In order to register as a Research Assistant for this program, students must have studied at least 8 law subjects. This would make them at least a 3rd year in a 5 year combined degree e.g. Law/Arts, Law/Commerce and 2nd year in the current 2 year Melbourne JD. The sequence of subjects would in most cases be Legal Method & Reasoning, Principles of Public Law, Torts, Dispute Resolution, Obligations, Legal Theory, Contracts and Constitutional. Q. Can I search for a Research Assistant to undertake research in a particular area of law? Yes. Students who register on the Research Assistant database are asked to indicate their research areas of expertise. These are areas in which they have studied, published or worked. They are also asked to indicate if they have studied a legal research subject. Q. What is an SWP? An SWP is a Student Work Placement, a University of Melbourne Careers & Employment approved work experience program. The program is designed to: give students valuable work experience assist them to develop their professional skills and/or allow them to apply some of their course knowledge in the workplace Student should gain skills in: communication skills team work skills problem-solving skills initiative and enterprise planning and organising self-management (personal vision and goals; taking responsibility) learning skills technology skills Placement requirements are: Must be course-related and/or assist with professional skills development. Should be of hours duration (preferably over a period no longer than 6 months). Should not involve duties of a high-risk nature nor require an unconventional mode of travel nor be located in a remote area. The host employer must have an ABN and be a registered business. The student must be over 18 to be eligible to undertake the placement (for insurance purposes). The host employer must be willing to extend the provisions of the OHS Act No. 107/2004 to students on unpaid placements (A summary of the Act and the full document can be found at Students undertaking approved Student Work Placements are covered by the University of Melbourne s Personal Accident, Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance policies while undertaking a placement, provided that the above conditions are met and the placement has been registered on Careers Online. Version

11 Contacts and Feedback Please contact us directly with any questions or feedback you may have about the Melbourne Law School and Victorian Bar Research Assistants Scheme. Your comments and suggestions are appreciated. Angela Edwards Manager, Careers Office Melbourne Law School The University of Melbourne Victoria 3010 Mei-Leng Hooi Manager, Marketing & Projects The Victorian Bar Inc. Owen Dixon Chambers East Level 5, 205 William Street Melbourne Vic 3000 Telephone : law-careers@unimelb.edu.au Telephone: mei-leng.hooi@vicbar.com.au Version