Volunteer solicitors

Volunteer solicitor opportunities

Redfern Legal Centre relies upon the dedication of experienced volunteer solicitors to help us meet legal demand. We only have limited openings for additional volunteers throughout the year, but encourage you to submit an expression of interest. ​  

Volunteer solicitors provide advice on a weekly, fortnightly or 4-weekly roster. The majority of advice is by phone. Applicants may apply in one of four legal areas, in accordance with their skills and experience:

• Police Accountability Practice
• Employment Law Practice
• Credit, Debt and Consumer Practice
• International Students Legal Service.

Practices which are currently accepting applications 

Each practice opens and closes for applications as the need arises. Currently:

• Police Accountability Practice is not accepting applications
• Employment Law Practice is accepting applications
• Credit, Debt and Consumer Practice is accepting applications
• International Students Legal Service is not accepting applications.

Duties

Volunteer lawyers are expected to attend on their rostered time. The Centre's advice service depends on the reliability of volunteers. While we understand that illness and other demands can make this difficult, we are unable to accommodate volunteers on the roster who cannot regularly attend.

Duties include:

1. Staffing a phone advice shift on a weekly or fortnightly basis
2. Interviewing clients and providing advice
3. Accurately recording advice given on advice forms
4. Accurately obtaining and recording statistical information from clients
5. Following Professional Indemnity Insurance requirements.

Requirements

1. A current NSW Practising Certificate
2. 12 months post-admission experience
3. Minimum 12 months commitment to prompt and reliable attendance
4. A high level of communication skills
5. A high level of personal motivation
6. Whilst under supervision, an ability to provide accurate advice in face-to-face and telephone interviews
7. A capacity to be accountable to RLC policies and procedures
8. Sensitivity to diverse cultural and political backgrounds and a respect for multiculturalism and diversity.

How to apply

Your application may be added to a pool. As positions become available, the supervising solicitor of that practice will choose suitable applicants from the pool. Applicants with experience relevant to the practice will be given priority.

To apply

Please email as follows:

TO: legaladmin AT rlc.org.au (please replace AT with @ in this address)

SUBJECT: Application to be a Volunteer Solicitor

BODYTEXT: Please include all of the following information, as bodytext in this format (by copying all the text below and adding your answers after each question).

Full name: 
Phone: 
First Nations Australian: YES/NO
Languages spoken (other than English): 
Current employer (if any): 
Do you hold a current Practising Certificate?
How many years of experience do you have?
What areas of law do you have experience in?
Commitment: weekly / fortnightly / 4-weekly / other: 
When can you start?

ATTACHMENTS:

1. A current resume
2. A copy of your practising certificate.

Please note:

Section 122 of Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) requires persons seeking to work or volunteer at a legal practice to disclose any previous convictions for ‘serious offences’. Please see the Act for the definition of ‘serious offences’.

Section 122 of Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) also requires anyone who is a ‘disqualified person’ seeking to work or volunteer at a legal practice to disclose that they are a ‘disqualified person’. See the Act for the definition of ‘disqualified person’.