Other Opportunities

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CASTAN CENTRE INTERNSHIPS

What is the Castan Centre?

The Castan Centre for Human Rights Law seeks to promote and protect human rights through the generation and dissemination of public scholarship in international and domestic human rights law. The Castan Centre believes that human rights must be respected and protected, allowing people to pursue their lives in freedom and with dignity.

What opportunities are available?

The Castan Centre offers a number of Internships that are available for Monash Law students.

Castan Centre In-House Internship

The in-house internship program provides passionate Monash Law students the opportunity to work on the Centre’s policy, research and public education projects.

Castan Centre Global Internship

The Global Internship Program provides Monash Law students with the opportunity to travel to some of the world’s leading human rights institutions and forums to work for three to four months. Past interns have gone on to become global leaders in business and human rights, work at some of Australia’s most respected human rights institutions and more. More information on each internship - including application requirements and how to apply - can be found in Chapter 6: Internships and Careers in Social Justice at page 168-170.

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MONASH LAW CLINICS

What is the Monash Law Clinics? Applying

Monash Law Clinics (MLC) operates from two sites - Clayton (MLCC) and Melbourne (MLCM). MLC is a community legal centre that provides free assistance to disadvantaged community members. Both sites are also teaching clinics.

Both sites are operating remotely due to COVID-19 and operate advice sessions utilising volunteers on a limited scale. At present, there is a dedicated advice session on Wednesday evenings conducted from MLCC.

More volunteer sessions may be introduced or resumed. There may also be volunteering opportunities at MLCM in the administration and reception team.

Students conduct interviews, undertake research, liaise with a supervising lawyer, advise clients and make referrals.

Areas of law include criminal law, motor vehicle accidents, debt, family law and social security problems. When and how: MLCC has two volunteer intakes, typically in April and September. Please check www.monash. edu/law/home/cle/mlcc/volunteer for application deadlines.

For MLCM, please contact law-clinics@ monash.edu to enquire about available volunteering opportunities.

Contact

W: www.monashlawclinics.com.au E: law-clinics@monash.edu P: 1800 860 333 A: 60 Beddoe Avenue, Clayton VIC 3168

Requirements

• Enthusiasm and commitment to the law and legal issues within the community legal service context • Sensitivity and ability to deal with diverse cultures and backgrounds • Strong interpersonal skills and problem-solving abilities • Minimum commitment of one session per fortnight for 6 months

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MY EXPERIENCE AT MLCC

I began volunteering as a mentor at Monash Law Clinic Clayton (MLCC) in July 2018 after I had completed my Professional Practice placement (LAW4328) earlier that year.

Students can volunteer as mentors or mentees at MLCC. Volunteer mentors are usually students who have completed Professional Practice placements previously while volunteer mentees need not have prior experience. Volunteers at MLCC are able to assist with two advice only night sessions - a family law session on Tuesday and a general advice session on Wednesday.

A typical volunteer night will involve arriving at the clinic around 6pm, pairing up with a mentee and preparing the paperwork for the interview. Mentors and mentees conduct the interview with the client together, taking instructions from the client about their legal issues. The volunteer program is designed to develop the skills of the mentee so they are able to take a more proactive role in the interview process as they progress and gain more experience.

Once the volunteers have obtained the client’s instructions, they may conduct any required research and then speak to a supervising lawyer about the appropriate advice to give the client. Volunteers conclude the interview by providing the client with the advice and any other assistance, including referrals. After the interview, volunteers will draft a file note record of the interview. As a volunteer I have assisted clients with a variety of legal issues including infringements, family law, neighbourhood disputes and criminal law matters. The variety of legal issues I have been exposed to as a volunteer has been invaluable in developing my legal skills, including instruction-taking, oral and written communication, problemsolving and legal research.

My experience as a volunteer has been slightly different because I volunteer mainly for the Virtual Clinic service held at MLCC on Wednesday nights. The Virtual Clinic involves conducting client interviews via web-conferencing. It has been a fantastic project to work on because it not only helps develop client interviewing skills in a new context, but also allows us to use technology to help our clients in new ways. Since I mainly work in the Virtual Clinic, my volunteering schedule is dependent on the scheduling of Virtual Clinic appointments. However, generally volunteers are rostered on fortnightly.

The volunteering program has been a great way for me to further develop my practical legal skills while also being able to genuinely help those in our community with their legal issues.

Rachel Collins Monash University Student

CHAPTER 4:

COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRES

Community Legal Centres are a wonderful instrument through which you can get involved, and further your understanding of various social justice and equity issues. Working in a community legal centre provides you with an invaluable opportunity to practice your skills as a lawyer, and apply what you have learnt. Furthermore, you are able to see the product of your work and it have a real-time impact on others.

Before applying to work at a legal centre, utilise the information in this guide, as well as information available on their websites. This will help you to ensure that you find a legal centre that can help you to embrace an area you are interested in, and that you don’t miss crucial application dates.

Key:

Remote Opportunities available.