In January – February 2024, ACICIS welcomed 36 students onto ACICIS Law Professional Practicum (LPP). The student came from University of Melbourne,  Murdoch University, RMIT University, University of Adelaide, University of Sydney, Griffith University, Queensland University of Technology, the University of Queensland, Monash University,  Australian National University (ANU),  University of Western Australia (UWA), Western Sydney University, University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Most of the students completed the LPP with the support of the New Colombo Plan Grant. Following the structure of the last few years, the practicum consists of 2-week of Academic Week (seminars, field trips, language class) and 4-week of professional placement.

This year’s Law Professional Practicum takes a new turn under the guidance of Dr. Theresia Dyah Wirastri as the Academic Program Officer. Under her consultancy, the first two weeks of seminars are focused on the socio-legal studies of Indonesia. Therefore, these seminars highlight Indonesia’s pluralistic and complex legacicis.edu.au/…/dr-theresia-dyah-wirastrial system, which Australian law students are usually unfamiliar with. Students are given presentations on the history of law in Indonesia, customary/adat and religious law, legal reform and human rights development, law and technology, and criminal law developments, all inextricably tied with the rapid development of Indonesian society. Leaders and experts in various Indonesian legal governmental and non-governmental institutions, research institutes, and esteemed academics are invited to give presentations at the seminars.

This year, two field visits were conducted to the Indonesian International Islamic University and the Judicial Commission of Indonesia/ Komisi Yudisial Republik Indonesia. These visits impart to the students a deeper understanding and real-life case studies in the Indonesian legal system, specifically in customary law, religious law, and legal reform.

The Professional Practicum program also gives the students the experience of cultural immersion. In tandem with the seminars, the students also participated in language classes hosted by Atma Jaya Catholic University for the first two weeks. Students also partake in a hand-painted batik class, which they can take as souvenirs.

Following the Academic Weeks, LPP students commenced their four-week professional placement (internship) in their assigned Host Organisation (HO). Reflecting this year’s approach of focusing on socio-legal studies, the Host Organisation variety for the internship experience is also pluralistic. The placement covers different areas of the legal system, such as environmental law, maritime law, corporate law, legal reform, gender and law, judicial studies, agrarian law, and international law.

For LPP 2024, ACICIS collaborated with 20 Host Organisations, which can be roughly divided into three categories: law firms, research institutions, and NGOs/CSOs. During the four weeks of placements, the students are supervised by mentors from said institutions. ACICIS maintains communication via HO visits and weekly catch-ups to ensure students can communicate their challenges for the weeks ahead.

For the law firms, the students are placed in Soemadipradja & Taher (S&T), Muhtar Halim & Partners (MHP), Azwar Hadisupani Rum & Partners (AHRP), Misael & Partners, Armand Yapsunto Muharamsyah & Partners (AYMP), Hutabarat Halim & Rekan (HHR), Bagus Enrico & Partners (BE Partners).

For the research institutions, the students are placed in Center for Sustainable Ocean Policy (CSOP), Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL), Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR), Lembaga Advokasi & Independensi Peradilan (LeIP), Indonesia Judicial Research Society (IJRS), Faculty of Islamic Studies of UIII,  and Associated Program for International Law (APINTLAW). 

For NGOs/CSOs, the students are placed in Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Masyarakat (LBHM), Asosiasi LBH APIK Indonesia (LBH APIK), Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ), Komisi untuk Orang Hilang dan Kekerasan (KontraS), Konsorsium Pembaruan Agraria, and Perkumpulan Untuk Pemilu dan Demokrasi (Perludem).

Inviting all the Host Organisation representatives and the students, this year’s Professional Practicum Program culminated with a closing ceremony at Atma Jaya University.

We want to congratulate all the students of LPP 2024 for completing the course. Thank you for your fantastic effort and allowing yourself to have new experiences and immerse yourself in a different culture. We hope that the 6-week program has been transformative for you. We hope the connections you’ve made in Indonesia will be enduring and fruitful. It’s been an honour to have all of you here.

Terima kasih dan sampai jumpa lagi!