Continuing the success of Law Professional Practicum (LPP) 2019, this year’s LPP program welcomed 47 students, the largest cohort of Professional Practicum 2020 students, to Jakarta from twenty-three ACICIS member universities, including Macquarie University, La Trobe University, Murdoch University, Australian National University, UNSW Sydney, Queensland University of Technology and University of Western Australia. 35 students completed the LPP with the assistance of a $3000 New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant.
LPP participants, hosted by Atma Jaya Catholic University, undertook two weeks of academic program which consisted of language classes and a series of law-related seminars. The speakers, ranging from high profile government officials, academics, and practitioners, gave students a glimpse of the Indonesian legal system in preparation for their placements. The seminar series covered a wide variety of topics including significant legal issues and ongoing case studies in Indonesia which were relevant to areas of future law reform and research collaboration between Australia and Indonesia.
We went back to Constitutional Court for our first field trip for this year’s LPP program. LPP students visited the court where they met with Pan Mohamad Faiz, a senior researcher and Daniel Yusmic, a Justice for the Constitutional Court. The group had the opportunity to observe a court trial that was conducted on that day followed by a short seminar from Mr Faiz on the history and the importance of Indonesia’s constitution and court system.
For the second field trip, LPP students visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. The group was welcomed by the Director General for International Law and Treaties, Mr Damos Dumoli Agusman. The visit started with a short seminar on the Introduction to International Law, Indonesia’s stance on the international issues in the region, and overview of the Ministry. The visit continued with a tour to the Pancasila Building and Treaty room where the group learned about the history of Pancasila and lists of treaties concluded by Indonesia.
The students then commenced their four week placements at their assigned host organisations in Jakarta. ACICIS collaborated with 30 host organisations for the 2020 Law Professional Practicum, ranging from legal aid institutes, international NGOs, research centres, government institutions and law firms. These organisations included Mahkamah Konstitusi (Constitutional Court), Lingkar Temu Kabupaten Lestari (LTKL), Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), BE & Partners, and LBH Masyarakat. Students had the opportunity to witness firsthand the Indonesian legal fraternity and court processes. The students were supervised by mentors experienced in their field and ACICIS’ Academic Program Officers Dr Selvie Sinaga and Ms Patriani Paramita Mulia throughout their placement.
We would like to congratulate all 47 students on their incredible work during 2020 Law Professional Practicum. We wish all students the best for the future and hope to see them all back in Indonesia very soon.
