Units
Queensland Parliamentary Internship Program
Unit code: LWB413
Contact hours:
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit provides an opportunity for students to learn about the workings of the Queensland Parliament and to undertake a piece of research of interest and use to a member or senior officer of Parliament. Places are limited and preference will be given to students with a good academic record. This unit may be undertaken in semester 2, and intending students should contact the Unit Coordinator in May of each year. Places are generally available only to students in their final year of study who have achieved a grade point average of at least 5.2 or have demonstrated other evidence of capacity for research and report writing.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2012 Semester 1 | Yes |
| 2012 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2012
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
This unit is one of a series of work integrated learning units designed to provide you with the experience of using and developing your legal knowledge and skills in a real world context. The other units in this series include LWB418 Competition Moots, LWB419 Competition Moots, LWB420 (Internship) LWB421 (Learning in Professional Practice), LWB422 Virtual Placement and LWB456 (Legal Clinic-Organised Program). These units will provide you with an authentic learning experience through a diverse range of real world legal environments. Through this experience you should be better placed for a smooth transition to the workplace.
The distinguishing features of this unit are:
- You will complete a placement for one semester as an intern with a Member or Officer of Queensland Parliament. The placement is conducted pursuant to an agreement made between the University and the Parliament of Queensland. The program will provide you with research experience in an environment where the output of your research may be quickly reflected in the development of legislative or administrative programs. Members and officers of Parliament will gain the benefits of the research completed by students.
- Placements will be pre-arranged by the QUT Law School. You do not need to find your own placement, however entry into the unit is restricted according to the number of available placements. Where there are more applicants than placements available, students will be selected according to merit.
- The unit is open to both internal and external students, but you must be able to come to Brisbane in the early part of the semester for induction and in order to learn enough about parliamentary procedures to write the parliamentary report
Aims
The aim of this unit is to provide you with a real world, work integrated learning experience through your parliamentary internship. Through this experience you should develop:
- an understanding of parliamentary processes;
- research, analysis, and written communication skills in the context of a specific problem posed by a member or officer of parliament, under the supervision of a law school academic the dynamic relationship between academic knowledge and skills and their practical application; and
- professional social and ethical responsibilities in the context of completing your parliamentary internship.
Objectives
At the completion of this unit you should be able to:
- Identify and describe the key roles and functions of the Queensland Parliament;
- Appreciate the legislative and administrative processes which underpin the Queensland Parliamentary system through the application of theoretical knowledge to first hand experience;
- Effectively communicate, both orally and in writing and in plain English, policy issues in a parliamentary context; and
- Further develop skills relevant to employment, professional practice and life-long learning including legal research, critical analysis, oral and written communication, and time management.
Content
You will be provided with an introduction to Queensland Parliament and its procedures.
Skills
In this unit you will develop the following skills:
1. Problem solving
2. Critical thinking and legal analysis
3. Legal research
4. Oral and written communication
5. The ability to work independently and time management.
Graduate Capabilities
Your understanding of the unit content and development of these skills will assist you to acquire the following law graduate capabilities:
1. Discipline knowledge;
2. Problem solving, reasoning and research;
3. Effective communication;
4. Life Long learning;
5. Work independently and collaboratively;
6. Characteristics of self-reliance and leadership.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Early in the semester there will be an introductory session in the Queensland Parliament, run by the Parliamentary Education Officers. A program for your attendance at typical parliamentary activities will be discussed at this session.
A large component of the program is self-directed research. You will need to consult with the unit co-ordinator to discuss the general area of your research topic, and you will need to arrange both parliamentary and academic supervisors.
You will be expected to meet your academic supervisor early in the semester to discuss and finalise your topic and settle an agreed schedule of further meetings with the supervisor. You will be asked at this meeting to prepare a timeline setting out the milestones for the research and writing of the research paper. Any departures from this timeline should be discussed with your supervisor, for assistance with getting back on schedule or adjustment of the timeline.
Assessment name:
Parlimentary Report
Description:
A written critical report concerned with various aspects of Parliament and its procedures (assessed by the Parliamentary Education Office). The word count is 1500 - 2000 words.
Relates to objectives:
1 and 2
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 9
Assessment name:
Research Methodology
Description:
The research methodology has a word count of 1000 words. It should provide an outline of the problem posed by the parliamentary supervisor, and the proposed research strategies. It will be marked by the academic supervisor.
Relates to objectives:
2 and 3
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 4
Assessment name:
Research Report
Description:
This report should be about 4000 words. It should provide an analysis of the problem posed by the parliamentary supervisor, discuss alternative solutions and make a recommendation as to the respective merits of those solutions. It will be normally be examined by the academic supervisor, unless alternative arrangements are made by the unit co-ordinator.
Relates to objectives:
3 & 4
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End of exam period
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty means that you are expected to exhibit honesty and act responsibly when undertaking assessment. Any action or practice on your part which would defeat the purposes of assessment is regarded as academic dishonesty. The penalties for academic dishonesty are provided in the Student Rules. For more information you should consult the QUT Library resources for avoiding plagiarism.
Resource materials
Prescribed Materials:
There is no text book for this unit. The emphasis will be on the student's own self-directed research. Guidance, at least in the initial stages, will be provided by the academic supervisor.
Blackboard site
Online materials for the unit are available on the unit blackboard site.
Risk assessment statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 13-Dec-2011
