They are usually the ones being taught, but a group of University of Queensland law students will be handing out the information when it comes to reforms in the energy sector.
Six students from the TC Beirne School of Law are producing an educational flier about changes to energy providers as part of their practical assessment.
The booklet outlines changes to energy providers that come into effect on July 1 and how these changes will affect individuals. It advises readers of their rights when it comes to choosing an energy provider.
The flier is just one aspect of a practical course that sees students advising the public.
The Clinical Legal Education (LAWS5180) is an elective law course offered in conjunction with the Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House (QPILCH).
As part of their participation in the Consumer Law Advice Clinic (CLAC), students spend a day a week for 10 weeks fielding telephone enquiries from the public alongside legal professionals.
The CLAC won the inaugural prize for "Excellence in Consumer Protection" from the Minister for Fair Trading, Margaret Keech in 2005.
UQ Law students Angela Reynolds and Chantal Le Feuvre, who recently completed their 10-week stint at the CLAC, said taking part in the clinic complemented the education they had received in the classroom.
Miss Reynolds said she enjoyed applying her legal knowledge by helping consumers with legal issues surrounding credit card and mobile phone debt, bankruptcy and drafting legal documents.
“The clinic also allowed me to fine tune my skills and develop a greater appreciation of how the law functions in practice,” she said.
Miss Le Feuvre agreed helping in the clinic had been a valuable learning experience.
“My time at QPILCH really reaffirmed to me that there is so much to the legal industry that just can’t be learnt from a text book,” she said.
“At uni, it’s easy to ‘depersonalise’ legal issues – to look at legal issues in isolation and forget about the people behind them.
“There’s a big difference between knowing what the law is and actually applying it to assist an individual.”
The work the students did in the QPILCH offices was restricted to providing advice over the phone but the flier on energy providers will reach a much larger audience.
Miss Le Feuvre said the brochure would help consumers be aware of the potential traps posed by the Queensland energy reforms that will come into play on July 1.
“For instance, not all electricity retailers will service all suburbs, so if you enter a 12-month contract, then move house, you may have to make a pay-out for breach of contract if your provider does not service your new location,” she said.
“Consumers should also watch out for marketing ploys. The ability of marketers to create a contract over the phone is a big one to watch out for.”
CLAC coordinator Catherine Uhr, who supervised the law students during their time at the clinic, said the group was seeking funding to print the brochure but financial counsellors were already requesting the document for vulnerable and disadvantaged clients.
Ms Uhr expected community legal centres, legal aid offices and other community organisations would be interested in distributing the flier, which is currently being reviewed by electricity market experts.
Miss Le Feuvre said she was glad to take part in the CLAC and producing the brochure, as she believes it is important for lawyers and law students to share their knowledge with the community.
“Unfortunately, every day people have their rights infringed but because they are not aware of their legal rights, or they are unable to properly interpret a contract, they are not able to defend themselves,” she said.
“I believe that there is professional obligation for lawyers to issue pro bono advice.
“Justice isn't a commodity; it shouldn't just be available to those people who can afford to pay for legal advice.”
Media: Paul O’Shea at the TC Beirne School of Law (07 3365 6614 or p.oshea@law.uq.edu.au) or Tegan Taylor at UQ Communications (07 3365 2339)
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