The nationally recognised clinical program at SCALES (Southern Communities Advocacy Legal and Education Service) is truly the jewel in the crown of the Murdoch School of Law.
SCALES
is a community legal centre and the site of the Murdoch University legal clinic
– the only legal clinic of its kind in Western Australia. Work at SCALES
is very 'hands on', with students studying the operation of the legal system
by being responsible for real files and real clients, providing legal advice
and assistance to over 1,000 people per year who otherwise would not have
access to assistance.
SCALES began as an initiative of community groups from the Rockingham and Kwinana areas and the Murdoch University School of Law opening its doors at its Rockingham office in April 1997.
Deputy Director Jo Scott said SCALES had dual aims of providing a service to the community and providing quality practical legal education to Murdoch law students.
Tanya Aplin graduated with a joint degree in Law and English and Comparative Literature. Tanya was successful in winning a Rhodes Scholarship and has since completed a Doctor of Philosophy at Oxford University. Tanya is currently a Lecturer in Law at King's College, London.
“I felt an incredible energy when I commenced my studies at Murdoch University. The students were eager and prepared to challenge. The staff were accessible and enthusiastic, which meant that I had an open intellectual exchange. Part of this exchange was regular assessment and feedback, which greatly helped my learning.
We were also encouraged to combine our law studies with another discipline and for me, combining Law and Arts degrees breathed critical perspective into my legal studies. My experience at Murdoch gave me the impetus to pursue graduate study, and I successfully completed both a Masters degree and a doctorate. I am now happily pursuing a career in academia.”
It provides free legal advice, information and representation to low income people living in the Kwinana and Rockingham areas. The service deals with clients predominantly in relation to criminal law, domestic violence, family law, public housing and tenancy, Centrelink, criminal injuries compensation, equal opportunity, and consumer, debt and civil law.
“SCALES has built a specialist reputation in the fields of immigration and refugee law. It developed a clinical program in the area of immigration and refugee law which was the first of its kind in Australia,”
Ms Scott said. “Students work with refugees and asylum seekers from various areas of the world and assist them with their cases to claim protection in Australia.”
Ms Scott said that each academic year SCALES offered clinical opportunities to around 50 per cent of each graduating class from the Murdoch School of Law.
Former SCALES students have gone on to win prizes and accolades as articled clerks and practitioners. Many students have worked in diverse areas such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Judicial Monitoring Project in Timor Leste as Federal Court Associates, and in commercial, government and community legal practice.
In 2002 SCALES was awarded the HREOC National Human Rights Award in Law in recognition of the excellent client work and the teaching of students about human rights in a social context.
SCALES has also developed a specialist service in the area of family violence, where solicitors, students and a community worker assist women who are seeking to leave a violent family situation.
For more information, please telephone: (08) 9528 6077.
