RUFUGEE & IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICE

APPLICATION & RECRUITMENT PROCESS RAILS receives applications for volunteering in either administrative or legal roles (qualified and non-qualified legal roles).

REFUGEE & IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICE profile:

www.rails.org.au admin@rails.org.au 170 Boundary St, West End QLD 4101

WHO ARE YOU & WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE? The Refugee and Immigration Legal Service (RAILS) is the only specialist community provider of free legal advice to migrants and refugees across Queensland. RAILS’ mission of providing an holistic and sustainable legal service for vulnerable refugees and migrants through specialist legal assistance, education and advocacy, is achieved in a highly collaborative and effective way, with support to and from more than 20 other service provides. Areas of law: Specific migration legislation, including visas, family reunion and family violence provisions, onshore and offshore refugee/humanitarian provisions, Immigration Tribunal appeals and Ministerial intervention; family and domestic violence laws; employment and workplace laws, and legal education identified by communities as needed. The application should be sent by email to admin@ rails.org. au including cover letter, resume and academic transcript (for students). Qualified legal volunteers (namely, registered migration agents and/or solicitors who hold a current practising certificate) should provide copy of their resume, and practising certificate.

People are encouraged to send their application during the month before the first week of February, June and end of November. This is the time when the selection process occurs. Those people accepted then attend an induction session during the second week of February, July and first week in December. Qualified legal volunteers are encouraged to apply any time during the year. RAILS requires a minimal commitment of attendance once per week during a semester. Qualified legal volunteers are recruited all year and they are required to attend at least once per month.

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM RAILS recognises and values the substantial contribution made by volunteers to RAILS and its clients. During your volunteer work you will: » Gain experience in migration law; » Assist our clients who are experiencing the most disadvantaged conditions and need legal advice; » Assist our caseworkers with the ongoing workload; » Gain administrative law skills; » Make a difference in people’s lives and contribute to social justice.

REFLECTIONS FROM YOUR STUDENT COLLEAGUES

“Working in the legal industry while you are studying is both the most exhilarating and most daunting part of law school; you are on an absolute high when you finally make it into the industry, but the thought of actually starting is so scary.

My best tip for your first day in a law firm is to prepare the best you can the night before. Pack your bag (including your lunch!), pick out your best clothes, set your alarm and get a good night’s rest. When your anxiety starts to build in the back of your head, remind yourself to trust your employer’s experience in choosing you for the job. Take a deep breath and try to walk in with all the confidence you can muster! Good luck!”

- Ella O’Brien QUTLS Diversity, Culture and Wellbeing Director

“My favourite legal experiences have been volunteering roles with Community Legal Centres (CLCs) and I can’t recommend them enough. CLCs have been a great path to getting paid legal roles, and to be honest, helping clients has reminded me of why I started a law degree. Volunteering exposed me to practical legal skills, as well as niche or emerging areas of law, that I would never be able to tackle in-depth through courses. I’ve also inadvertently built a network through my volunteering, and I’ve been getting tons of great mentoring from experienced solicitors.

If you’re looking to start volunteering, I’d recommend finding and reaching out to CLC’s that deal with areas of law you’re interested in; they’ll probably tell you about when they run intake or how to find out about openings. A great starting place is the CLC volunteering website, which you can reach at https://www.clcvolunteers.net.au.”

- Jack Hubert QUTLS Equity Officer

QUT LAW SOCIETY

Reflections From Your Student Colleagues

“There’s a big difference between what you learn at Uni and what you learn working in the legal industry. The things you learn from study at university forms your theoretical understanding of the law, while the things that you pick up from legal work is the practical skills that you will need for work as a legal practitioner. I wish there were certain things I knew before being in the middle of both worlds:

» Listen or read instructions given to you carefully. Don’t assume anything until you are 100% sure about a matter. If you are stuck, ask your questions after you attempt the task.

» Take the time to understand what your supervisor, colleague or client wants and needs.

» This is a given, but treat everyone with respect and get to know your co-workers. You’re not a cog in a machine. You are a team member of a law firm, always remember that.

» Immerse yourself in your work, hone your writing and speaking skills and get involved with firm life.

Everything that you do as a law student or as a person working in the legal industry all comes together. Take your time, learn from both opportunities and be yourself.”

- Gideon Caturla QUTLS Publications Officer