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Law students to get police experience

The launch of a joint internship program will give our law students the previously unavailable opportunity to gain valuable practical experience in a police setting.

Dean of Victoria Law School, Professor Andrew Clarke, and Police Superintendent, Spiros Kalliakmanis, launched the Student Internship program on Tuesday, 25 November 2014.

Professor Clarke said, "This deepens VU's philosophy of offering valuable, and unusual, exposure to different roles in the legal system as part of a quality, professionally focused law degree delivered by VU right in the heart of Melbourne’s legal district".

The Law School’s Clinical Programs Coordinator, Su Robertson, said, "This is about driving career opportunities for students so they gain practical experience in an area of career interest and to provide valuable insight into, and observation of, the police prosecutions system in action".

The first law students will undertake a 10-week internship with the Legal Services Department and Prosecutions Division of Victoria Police over summer. Competition among students for the places was high.

Back row: Mr Spiros Kalliakmanis, Superintendent, Ms Su Robertson, Lecturer, Stefan Bagg (student), Jasmina Behlic (student) Professor Andrew Clarke, Dean College of Law and Justice, Fletcher Payne (student).
Front row: Theresa Tezengi (student), Vincent Lie (student), Katina Stefanidis (student), Mr Findlay McRae, Director Legal Services

The program will comprise a series of two-week placements in a variety of police specialist areas including Melbourne Prosecutions Unit, Research and Training Unit, Civil Advocacy Unit, Commissions and Inquiries Division, and Police Coronial Support Unit.

Six students will take part in the program, with plans to continue and expand in the future.

The Law School offers up to 150 internships across a range of programs designed to give students unique exposure to the real experience of the justice system

Employers value our graduates because they learn from industry-relevant curriculum giving them real-life experience.

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