Dates and how to apply
Information for potential Volunteer Intake Officers about applications and intakes.
Rosters & shifts
There are two rosters per year – Autumn-Winter and Spring-Summer - which start when uni semesters start. You usually work the same shift each week throughout a roster. You can change your shift for each new roster as your uni timetable changes.
During the training period (your first 12 days), you need to work one full day per week. After your first 12 days, we prefer you to continue working a full day per week, but if that is not possible, then a split shift - 2 half days per week - is acceptable, subject to shift availability. Shifts are weekdays 9.45am-4.30pm with an hour for lunch.
Applying
Dates: All information below is subject to change at any time, so please check back here regularly. When an intake opens for applications, we guarantee a minimum 3 week application period, and after that, applications may close without notice as soon as sufficient suitable applications are received.
Enquiries: Nick Manning, Intake Manager, email: volunteering AT rlc.org.au. Please do not just email your resume, as we can only consider applications made via the online form. The online form is linked below when an intake is open.
Don't miss your offer! Some RLC emails go to junk. Please add volunteering AT rlc.org.au and info AT rlc.org.au to your Safe Senders list so you don't miss important communications from us!
Upcoming intakes
Complete the online form and upload 2 documents, A. and B.:
A. your resume;
B. a cover letter that includes a specific section on each one of the 5 topics below (please use sub-headings to help us find each topic):
- ABOUT ME
Generally, tell us about yourself including things such as the following. You do not need to include every item, but if you have a strength in any of these areas you should say so here - do not rely on your resume to show this.:
- Your lived experience of, or connection to, one of RLC's client groups or areas of legal practice
- Your ability to speak a second language
- Your commitment to social justice causes
- Your experience in volunteering
- Your experience in administration and/or customer service work
- Your experience assisting people who are in high stress
- Your experience in communication of precise and detailed information to the general public
- Anything else that you think we should know about you.
- MY COMMITMENT:
Confirm that you can meet the commitment of the specific intake.
- MY STUDIES OR EQUIVALENT:
Confirm completion of at least two years of an undergraduate degree (law or other relevant discipline), or acceptance into a graduate degree, or relevant experience.
- ETHICAL ISSUES:
Briefly describe the ethical issues which you will need to consider in your own work as a volunteer at RLC.
- HYPOTHETICAL TASK:
This task has no right or wrong answers - it is a chance for you to show us a little bit about yourself and why you think that RLC is the place for you!
Use your knowledge and imagination to describe a possible client of RLC - a client that you would love to assist on Intake:
a) Briefly describe the client and what sort of legal problem they have.
b) Explain why you see it as important for RLC to help this client.
c) Explain what you personally might get out of helping this client.
d) Explain what this client’s situation might tell us about Australia today.
All applicants will be contacted by the end of April.
Commitment:
- Start in the week of 5 August 2024.
- Work a minimum of 24 full days, working one day (9.45am-4.30pm) per week.
- You should not have more than 3 weeks of expected absences in November-December 2024 (including exams, work, holidays etc).
Applications now open. Applications will remain open at least until 8 May. After that date, applications will close without notice as soon as we have received sufficient suitable applications.
Commitment:
- Start in the week of 14 October 2024.
- Work a minimum of 24 full days, working one day (9.45am-4.30pm) per week.
- You should not have more than 2 weeks of expected absences in November-December 2024 (including exams, work, holidays etc).
Applications will open in June 2024. Applications will remain open for at least 3 weeks. After that date, applications will close without notice as soon as we have received sufficient suitable applications.