Public Interest Advocacy Centre About
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is an
independent,
not-for-profit
law
and
policy
organisation, dedicated to obtaining social justice for
disadvantaged individuals and at the broader, systemic level. PIAC tackles difficult social problems that impact
the lives of many Australians. They conduct test cases and strategic litigation in the public interest, and provide legal assistance, policy advice and training to create positive change to the lives of people who are disadvantaged and marginalised.
- Strategic litigation through public interest test cases, including indigenous justice, mental health and insurance, and police accountability
- Providing legal help and advocacy to homeless people at outreach clinics through the Homeless research,
policy
development
and
representation to energy and water consumers through the Energy and Water Consumers’ Advocacy Program
- General policy and law reform work
Location Sydney
placements to students who have completed, or are close to finishing, their law degree. Students must commit to three days per week for 60 days.
PLTs are supervised by a Senior Solicitor within the
strategic litigation team, and have an opportunity organisation.
Employees are involved in the following:
- Providing
PIAC offers unpaid Practical Legal Training (PLT)
to work with lawyers and policy officers across the
What kind of work?
Persons Legal Service
Graduate Opportunities
The major projects currently being undertaken by PIAC
with a strong legal component include the generalist strategic litigation practice and the Indigenous Justice Program.
The Volunteer PLT Placement contributes to the
provision of a successful, innovative, and responsive
legal practice through assisting with PIAC’s telephone information and advice service and with PIAC’s litigation and associated policy and law reform, training and administrative work.
Fun Fact / Recent Project
Same-sex marriage test case
In September 2017, PIAC challenged in the High Court the decision of the Commonwealth government to hold a postal survey on same sex marriage.
PIAC brought the case on behalf of Andrew Wilkie, the Independent member of Parliament for the
Tasmanian electorate of Denison; Felicity Marlowe,
a Melbourne mother in a same-sex relationship with
three children and advocate for Rainbow Families, and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Brisbane, with their national Spokesperson Shelley Argent.
The case was ultimately lost by PIAC, but provides
a useful demonstation of the kind of public interest work they are involved in.
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