For the love of the law... and the community Â
Bond’s law students volunteer in a range of legal clinics, offering free advice and information to the general public, non-profit organisations and community service agencies across many different areas of the law. Â
These clinics are run in collaboration with organisations such as the Gold Coast Community Legal Centre and the Queensland Police Service, and give our students an opportunity to gain practical experience, working on real cases and under the mentorship of experienced legal practitioners and academics.Â
Our legal clinics
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Community Law Clinic
Bond Law partners with the Gold Coast Community Legal Centre to provide law student volunteers for their clinic sessions. Working under the supervision of experienced legal practitioners, our students help to interview clients, research their cases, and draft documents and legal advice.
The Centre is a vital community service, offering legal advice and access to the law in areas such as:
- Family law
- Consumer disputes
- Employment law
- Succession law
- Minor criminal and traffic matters
- Tenancy and body corporate issues
- Domestic violence
- Minor debtsÂ
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Climate Sustainability Clinic
The Climate Sustainability Clinic offers students a unique opportunity to become climate activists. This is a 9-week program that enables law students to volunteer their time to become environmentalists and to contribute to a safer climate future for all of us. Students are an integral part of various ongoing projects aimed at improving Bond University’s climate sustainability performance, and educating our staff, students and the wider community about climate change, the regulation of climate change initiatives, and what we can all do today. Â
Students participate in the clinic for 2-3 hours per week and meet regularly with the clinic coordinator to assess progress and future directions of the projects.
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Criminal Law Clinic
At the Criminal Law Clinic, our students work with the Queensland Police Service on criminal cases being heard at the Southport Magistrates Court.
Their role involves liaising with the police, prosecution counsel, defence counsel and Court, developing a brief of evidence, undertaking legal research, preparing questions for the examination and cross examination and attending court with the prosecution to provide assistance throughout the trial.
It is a dynamic and often challenging introduction to the criminal court system.
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Human Rights Clinic
The Human Rights Clinic is presented in collaboration with the International Bar Association’s (IBA) Human Rights Institute.
Volunteering for 2-3 hours per week, our students are involved with legal research and legal writing for relevant IBA reports.Â
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Internet Law Research Clinic
The Internet Law Clinic is partnered with Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), an open, member-based, not-for-profit organisation, whose primary role is to distribute and manage internet resources. This program, supervised by Bond University academics, enables law students to volunteer their time during their degree, to gain practical insight and experience in the area of legal technology and internet law solutions.
Students volunteer with the Clinic during the semester for approximately 2-3 hours per week at a mutually agreed time and work on projects to assist APNIC members to address legal technology, internet regulation, and cyber security issues.Â
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My Community Legal Clinic
The My Community Legal Clinic enables law students to volunteer their time during their degree to gain practical insight and experience across a broad spectrum of areas of law.
Typically, student volunteers being supervised at the Clinic will:
- Assist lawyers at the Centre with matters in various areas of the law by undertaking client intakes, preparing materials related to advice, and supporting with risk management processes.
- Have additional opportunities to learn about practice management and administration requirements applicable to law firms.
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Public Interest Law Clinic
The Public Interest Law Clinic works with non-profit organisation to help with legal technology information and solutions.
Under the supervision of our academics, students assist with research and problem solving, giving them some practical insights into the kinds of legal technology issues that can impact organisations.
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Start-Up Law Clinic
The Start-Up Law Clinic is designed to help business founders and entrepreneurs in Bond’s Transformer program.
Working under the supervision of an experienced legal practitioner who has worked extensively with start-ups and existing businesses, our students offer free legal information (not advice) to help our Transformer entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. This includes issues such as business structure, intellectual property protection, commercialization strategies, operational issues, financing and deal-making.
Each semester, our student volunteers are also involved in presenting a 30-minute  lunch and learn session on a current legal topic relevant to start-up founders and early stage ventures.
What you’ll gain
Volunteering in our law clinics is a great opportunity to get practical experience, working on real cases as they evolve.
You’ll be working with a variety of practising lawyers who all have different ways of operating. You’ll also be networking with potential employers in an environment where you can really show them what you are capable of.
Some of the key benefits include:
- Practical experience on real legal cases.
- Develop skills in legal research, legal writing, drafting briefs and preparing submissions.
- Learn how to interview clients, identify and communicate core legal issues, gather evidence and solve problems.
- Understand the formalities and procedures of dealing with judges, court administrators, prosecutors, defence counsel and police.Â