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KWM and UTS to offer Indigenous internships
King & Wood Mallesons and the University of Technology Sydney have partnered up to provide Indigenous law students with “ideal” internships.
Naomi Neilson
Source: uts.edu.au/about/about-our-campus/our-campus/our-buildings
The Pathways Program is the result of a “intensive design thinking-style workshop” by KWM that was attended by Indigenous students. The students were asked what the ideal work experience or internship program should look like.
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Head of KWM’s Pro Bono and Community Impact program Dan Creasey said the program would show the progression of legal internships to meet the changing workplace and address the barriers to entry faced by a lot of Indigenous students.
“The program is about providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with the chance to engage directly with the industry throughout the course of their degree and ensuring they have the best possible experience when interning at KWM,” Mr Creasey said.
Mr Creasey added the program is a “step in the right direction with regard to a greater representation of Indigenous Australians in our profession”.
The “purpose-built program” will be a 15-day paid internship that caters to Indigenous students’ flexibility required to study and will meet personal commitments. The chosen students will be able to choose their preferred working days, the legal area of practice they prefer and will participate in additional networking experiences.
Supporting the Pathways Program are KWM clients and community partners, AGL Energy and Tabcorp. The Human Rights Law Centre will also offer secondments or a professional networking opportunity within the organisation, it was noted.
The secondments will provide students the chance to gain industry experience and to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law graduates are placed to secure employment in their chosen field of law upon the completion of their studies.
HRLC executive director Hugh de Kretser said: “For too long, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been excluded from Australian legal systems, and this has contributed to the harm that legal systems have caused them.
“This excellent initiative will help to address this. The co-designed process in particular should be commended.”
Mr de Kretser added. “We’re proud to be part of Pathways and look forward to welcoming the students to the Human Rights Law Centre.”
UTS Law associate dean Maxine Evers said the UTS law degree delivers “practical” learning and the Pathways program is “the perfect fit”, adding: “We have a strong reputation for practical and professional learning through our course work and our partnerships.
“We are also committed to embedding Indigenous learning across all our courses as well as assisting our Indigenous students reach their full potential.”
KWM launched Pathways at a collaborative event in their Sydney office. The program will kick off in August and internships will run until the conclusion of the semester.
