In response to the observed experience in legal practice and subsequent research pertaining to the legal need of Australian-born stateless children, the Stateless Legal Clinic (initially known as the Stateless Children Legal Clinic) was established in 2021 at the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness, at the Melbourne Law School. The Clinic partners with the Melbourne Law School Clinics program and the Refugee Advice Casework Service. In 2023 it was expanded to assist stateless adults, through an additional partnership with Refugee Legal and in 2024, commercial law firm Lander & Rogers. Stateless Legal Clinic Students call clients, 2021. L-R: Melbourne Law School Stateless Legal Clinic students Zahraa Albadri and Claudia Cameron. The SLC provides direct assistance to Photo: Katie Robertson (2021) Australian born stateless children in their application for citizenship. The Clinic also provides legal education to stateless legal communities about their rights under Australian law. The Clinic also provides an educational component, whereby students at the University of Melbourne can assist stateless children apply for Australian citizenship in exchange for subject credit in the course of their Juris Doctor degree at Melbourne Law School. Involvement of university students in the Clinic provides them with a valuable opportunity to learn more about the issue of childhood statelessness, as well as meet with and form relationship with members of the stateless community whom they would be otherwise unlikely to encounter. This model establishes valuable links between the two groups, ultimately enhancing the fabric of the Australian community. 34