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.

What kind of work?

Employees are involved in the following: - 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 Persons Legal Service - Providing 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

Graduate Opportunities

PIAC offers unpaid Practical Legal Training (PLT) 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 to work with lawyers and policy officers across the organisation.

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.