2014
EDITOR & UTS LSS CAREERS PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR Susana Livaja CONTRIBUTORS Jerome Doraisamy Nicolas Harrington Jinan Hamoudi Paul Redmond Adam Watterson SUB-COMMITTEE Emma Marino Yvonne Nehme Taryn Priadko
DESIGNER Aimee Gordon DEAN OF LAW Lesley Hitchens UTS LSS PRESIDENT Lloyd Wood UTS LSS VICE PRESIDENT (SPONSORSHIP & CAREERS) Emma White
COPYRIGHT & DISCLAIMER This publication is copyright. Except where permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this publication may n any form or by any means (electronic or otherwise) be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any process, without specific written consent of the UTS Law Students’ Society. Enquires are to be addressed to the publishers.
UTS LAW STUDENTS’ SOCIETY C/-Faculty of Law UTS PO Box 123 Broadway NSW, 2007 Australia +61 2 9514 3448
Disclaimer: The articles and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the UTS Law Students’ Society, the Editor, or the UTS Faculty of Law. Although the editor and authors have taken every care in preparing and writing the guide, they expressly disclaim and accept no liability for any errors, omissions, misuse or misunderstandings on the part of any person who uses or relies upon it. The editor, authors and UTS Law Students’ Society accept no responsibility for any damage, injury or loss occasioned to any person or entity, whether law student or otherwise, as a result of a person relying, wholly or in mart, on any material included, omitted or implied in this publication. The user of this guide acknowledges that he or she will take responsibility for his or her actions and will under no circumstances hold the editor, authors or UTS Law Students’ Society responsible for any damage resulting to the user or anyone else form use of this publication.
table of contents
President’s Welcome Editors Foreword
02 03
LIFE AFTER LAW SCHOOL Thoughts of an Accidental Academic Life After Law School Interview with Nicholas Harrington
04 05 07 09
STUDENTS WITH EXPERIENCES Mission Australia Internship A Volunteer Experience: Salvos Legal The NSW Young Lawyers Public Interest Fair Refugee Advice Casework Services Volunteer at Community Mates The Brennan Program A Brief How-to Homeless but not Unnoticed
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We are delighted to bring you the inaugural Pro Bono Guide on behalf of the UTS Law Students’ Society (UTS LSS) Careers team, which will aim to give you an insight into the assortment of opportunities available in the sphere of volunteer or pro bono services. Pro bono (from the Latin ‘pro bono publico’, meaning ‘for the public good’) generally means the provision of professional legal services on a free or substantially reduced fee basis. This ranges from those who cannot afford the full cost of a lawyer’s services, non-profit organisations that work on behalf of disadvantaged, marginalised or for the public good, free community legal education, secondment to community organisations as well as other public interest matters, such as law reform or policy work. Australian lawyers have an admirable history of engaging in pro bono services and this has developed positively over time. While pro bono services largely developed on an ad hoc basis, contemporary law firms and organisations are increasingly committed to providing these services in a more targeted, visible and structured manner. In New South Wales, there has been the introduction of formal schemes such as the Law Society Pro Bono Scheme, the Bar Association Legal Assistance Scheme and the Public Interest Law Clearing House. This is a welcome shift, as the strategic integration of pro bono services into everyday practice generates clear benefits for service providers, clients and the legal profession as a whole. Indeed, engaging in pro bono work is now considered as being at the core of legal professionalism and a necessary part of a solicitor’s practice. This commitment to altruism in the legal profession is also demonstrated here at UTS through our world-renowned Brennan Justice and Leadership Program, a joint initiative of the UTS LSS and the UTS Law Faculty. With over half the students at UTS signed up to the Program, it is an opportunity to engage in community services and volunteer work from the beginning of our engagement with the law. A big thank you to our amazing Careers Publications Director, Suzana Livaja, who provided both the inspiration and the driving force behind the publishing of this Guide for the student body, as well as her team of expert editors in the Careers Publications Sub-Committee, including Taryn Priadko, Emma Marino and Yvonne Nehme. It has been a pleasure to bring you helpful careers publications such as this in 2014 and we look forward to continuing this work in 2015. We wish you all the best in your career endeavours and hope you are able to be inspired through the pages of this Guide to engage in pro bono work during your time at UTS as well as within your chosen career. Kind regards, Lloyd Wood President
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president’s welcome
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It is with great pleasure and a sense of accomplishment that we bring you the Pro Bono Guide! I hope that this publication is of assistance to those of you who are still navigating through the various areas of law that you may choose to specialize in once you graduate. As you will gather by the time you get to the last page of our guide, the possibilities are endless! The key is to get informed and get started! This Guide is not about helping you pick a job in the not-for-profit sector, but rather providing you with information to guide you in the search and understanding of whether this is the path you wish to take. Embarking on this path can be difficult, but it will be made easier by having a strong conceptualisation of your career goals, and what you will need to do in order to achieve those goals. Right now, you have the opportunity and ability to develop these goals and make your ambitions a reality! I would like to thank all those who contributed to this guide. The multitude of perspectives will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the options available to you in the not-for-profit sector, as well as provide you with an insight into what working in this sector is really like. A big thank you to our President, Lloyd Wood , and Vice President of Sponsorship and Careers, Ian Hedberg for their support in putting together this guide. Thank you to my team of expert editors and writers in the Careers Publications Sub-Committee, including Taryn Priadko, Emma Marino and Yvonne Nehme. I hope this guide arms you with knowledge of both the legal and all other pathways and assists you when you are considering what the right career is for you. I wish you the best of luck in your career ahead, along whichever path you choose, and look forward to hearing and seeing where UTS:Law graduates succeed, in whatever profession, country or industry that may be. Kind regards, Suzana Livaja Careers (Publications) Director
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editors foreword
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LIFE AFTER LAW SCHOOL 04
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thoughts of an accidental academic by Paul Redmond
Sir Gerard Brennan Professor, Faculty of Law, UTS. Co-Director, Brennan Justice and Leadership Program Everyone’s career path is different; its trajectory becomes clearer with hindsight. Mine is no different, and I hope it’s a work in progress. I have been asked to write about my experiences with a special focus on the value of community and human rights work. This is a tentative response. I was an accidental law student but that is too distant a starting point for this story. Let's pick up in 1971 when I was a newly admitted solicitor working in a firm that is now a global corporate firm. I was doing corporate work and finding that interesting but also realizing that the interest was not at a level that would endure across the years. I was also doing a Master’s degree part-time and finding that more engaging, particularly around issues concerning the role and responsibilities of the large corporation in modern society, then a question that turned upon the accountability of managerial power. After three years of legal practice, I was offered a lectureship at the new law school at UNSW. I’ve never regretted that choice; it’s been one of the two best decisions of my life (the other, of course, was the choice of Ann as life partner). Academic work offers the tremendous combination of teaching bright, engaged and interesting students, doing research into questions of
personal interest and social importance, and the opportunity to contribute to institutions and relationships that affect lives. An academic career is tougher now and the entry standards higher. I doubt if I would now get a job as a junior lecturer. As a newly minted solicitor I had volunteered in the legal referral service operated by the Law Society of NSW. There was no legal aid commission then—that had to wait for Lionel Murphy and the Whitlam government—and no community legal centres in NSW. I volunteered at the Redfern Legal Centre when it was established in 1977. These experiences are priceless. I am not sure that my advice was ever as useful as my learning from the clients and from the extraordinarily idealistic and capable people working there. There is nothing like the satisfaction gained from listening to and trying to help people to whom no one listens and for whom legal advice can make such a difference. I became Dean of Law at UNSW in 1996 and learned how responsibilities also create opportunities. We succeeded in keeping the faculty’s Kingsford Legal Centre operating at a time when it was threatened by heavy cuts to higher education funding. It was then and still is now one of only two university-funded legal clinics in NSW that support clinical legal education, an
expensive form of legal education but a priceless learning experience with direct client exposure. Later, the faculty tendered successfully for the National Pro Bono Resource Centre which the Commonwealth Government was funding. Other centres were established (with the necessary external funding) such as the Gilbert+Tobin Centre for Public Law and a centre for cyberspace law and policy.
any other organisation. It is an incredible privilege, and inspiring, to work with grassroots advocates who deal on a daily basis with human rights problems, accentuated by material poverty beyond our experience and, often, imagination. The dice are loaded against them but they do not want for resources of the spirit, or for resilience, drive, hope or personal warmth. (And we think we are doing the training!)
In 1989 José Ramos-Horta, later to become Nobel Peace Laureate, established the Diplomacy Training Program at UNSW law school to share with human rights defenders and other community organizations in the Asia-Pacific region his advocacy experience with international human rights mechanisms. Diplomacy training is a strange term; it signifies people’s diplomacy—it would have been provocative for him then to have called it by the more descriptive name “Human Rights Training Program”. I became chair of the board and later found myself involved as a trainer when our training participants asked for sessions on remedies and strategies against corporations and not just, as before, oppressive governments—globalisation has really changed the landscape of threat to human rights protection. DTP has probably done more training in the area of business and human rights, along with indigenous peoples’ rights and the rights of migrant workers, than
People of my early boomer generation were fortunate. Not many of us got to university but, for those who did, there were jobs albeit in a narrow range. And it was a time of growth and opportunity. The matrix of choice is different now and changing rapidly, not always for the better. That gives me pause before offering reflections to those studying law now. But perhaps some things endure. Pressed, I would include, at least by the touchstone of my values, personality and experience, these: • the value of working closely with colleagues; • seeing legal work as a form of service to the other: that perspective imbues it with a dignity and purpose that sustains your spirit; • seeking out the role that interests you and fits your priorities and other responsibilities—count yourself fortunate to find it; • the higher paying job isn’t always worth the cost to you: don’t neglect the (untaxed!) psychic income of doing
what gives your life meaning and purpose; • as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined : expose yourself at law school to voluntary work that involves serving other people, during the semester and vacations (the Brennan Program helps you here); • whatever you choose to do, look out for opportunities to use your influence for the wider good, pro bono publico, if you like: nudge your organisation, society or whatever in a directions that improve and nurture; you do not need to work in community legal centres or human rights organisations to make a profound difference: the lawyer-businessman David Gonski is an exemplar here; and • remember that it all passes quickly: at 20 you think that life is forever; at 60 you suddenly wonder where the years went: don’t put off for too long doing what you really want to do if you are lucky enough to discern and be able to pursue it. “As you set out for Ithaka, hope the voyage is a long one, full of adventure, full of discovery.” I wish you the luck and good fortune that I received. And don’t be afraid of career accidents. They can work out well.
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life after Law school By Jerome Dorai samy
Like so many law students, both before and after me, I had NO IDEA of what I Twanted to do once I graduated. There was no shortage of options to be explored, yet somehow this bevy of choice only served to compound the problem I faced, which was that I was coming to the end of a five year double degree and I wasn’t sure what I had to show for it. I graduated in 2012 with a LLB/BA in Communication (Social Inquiry) double degree. Like most of my friends and colleagues – both from and outside of UTS – I had completed a summer clerkship at a commercial law firm. However, I opted not to pursue that area of legal practice for a graduate role, and instead chose to try and discover something that was more in line with my interests and strengths. Somewhere along the line, it dawned upon me that I didn’t have to go down the road that many of my friends were; I could, in fact, follow the road supposedly less travelled. At present, I work for the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department, in a primarily non-legal capacity but with some legal work involved also. The public sector is arguably the road less traveled when it comes to Australian law graduates, however I find it to be incredibly stimulating, challenging and, above all, rewarding. This is my day job. However, what I
have discovered since leaving law school is that it is of fundamental importance that I have interests and activities outside of my regular full-time employment, for the reason that having such extra-curriculars provides an added level of personal, emotional, intellectual and professional stimulation. Because of this, I feel that I am able to be much more inspired and motivated by my work with the Attorney-General’s Department in that I have a balance in my weekly schedule that gives me different things to look forward to. Once a month, I volunteer as a solicitor with the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS), taking statements from aspiring refugees whom have fled war-torn countries by boat and are in the process of making applications to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. This volunteer position is important to me for two reasons: one, it gives me an opportunity to exercise my legal practical skills, and two, it allows me scope to make a tangible – if only minimal – contribution to helping persons in need, especially in light of how I perceive the current political climate with regards to the issue of asylum seekers. Another side project I have is sitting on the board of directors for a friend’s careers consultancy company, based in Seattle, Washington. The company – which has not yet officially launched in
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Australia and thus I will not name it for privacy reasons – offers holistic personal and professional guidance for students and youths contemplating a vocation that best suits their interests and strengths in order to extract the most productive and successful professional results possible. The mantra of the company struck a chord with me when I was asked to get on board, and it means a great deal to me to play a part in assisting my peers take the plunge into the next phases of their lives. As a Business Development and Marketing Director for the company, I am also able to utilize professional skills that I otherwise would not get to use, which is hugely beneficial and rewarding for me. The biggest extra-curricular project I have, however, is the book I am currently writing on wellbeing solutions for law students and young legal professionals, in response to the alarming rates of depression in law. I wanted to be able to find a way in which I could make a meaningful impact on what I saw as being one of the biggest, if not the biggest, issue currently facing the legal profession. Sharing my own experiences, and the experiences of my friends, colleagues and mentors in law, seemed like the best way that I could influence real change.
My hope is to be able to produce a “how to” guide of sorts for incoming law students and young lawyers, so that they have the practical tools to ensure that they are as happy and healthy, and therefore as productive and successful, as they can possibly be as legal professionals. I do not expect or even dream that it will be a bestseller in the legal profession; however if I can help at least one person, then I will have achieved something meaningful. So that’s a breakdown of my current professional life after law school – it is as busy as it sounds! But I feel that it’s better to be busy rather than bored. What strikes me most about having followed my interests is that it is inextricably linked to a sense of fulfillment in my current professional life. A good friend of mine once quipped to me that if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. So the idea of loving my work, and making a tangible difference at the same time, is incredibly uplifting for me – as it would be for anyone.
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interview with nicholas harrignton If you were to read his LinkedIn profile, you could be forgiven for thinking Nick doesn't get more than 4 hours of sleep a night! We asked Nick, a past UTS Student who has been involved in some amazing projects including founding the Manjeri School Project and the St Andrew's College Children's Camp, about what he has been up to since leaving law school.
1. HOW DID THE IDEA OF THE MANJERI SCHOOL PROJECT COME ABOUT? As part of my Gap year after school (2008) I lived in Uganda for 3 months and volunteered for AFFPIN a local organisation. During my first visit I quickly realised some of the shortfalls of ill planned international development projects as the school established by AFFPIN with foreign assistance was bankrupt, poor resourced and staffed and heading towards extinction. It was with this donor dependence and lack of long term strategy that sparked an idea to build a 2500 bird chicken farm so that the school would have some regular income. The successful build and management of the chicken farm really paved the way for The Manjeri School Project as I then built a team and focused on improving the quality of the education at the school and also ensuring that it become sustainable by 2018.
2. WHAT IS THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE MANJERI SCHOOL PROJECT RIGHT NOW AND WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE ORGANISATION FOR THE FUTURE? The main focus of The Manjeri School Project is to complete what we set out to do and prove our development model - make sure the school is 100% sustainable and financially secure. After getting our first school to a point of sustainability the plan is to replicate and scale so that we have an even bigger impact.
3. THE CHARITY HAS EVOLVED ENORMOUSLY SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED IN 2008. WHAT ARE YOU TIPS FOR BUILDING AND ORGANISATION FROM THE GROUND UP AND OBTAINING THE SUPPORT TO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN? The most important ingredient to growing an organisation is to have a gun team. We have advertised for positions on various university websites, sought people from the UTS BUiLD program and looked quite broadly. With a good team in place you draw from diverse skill sets and the organisation can be nimble and fast moving provided the right people are on board.
4. HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO MANAGE ALL THIS WHILST STILL BEING AT UNIVERSITY? I managed The Manjeri School Project, university and other commitments by being as organised as possible. At the end of the day, you do have to make sacrifices and compromises have to be made. Having support networks around you can make that easier - I've got some great friends and family who have helped along the way.
5. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST REWARDING AND CHALLENGING PARTS OF RUNNING THE ORGANISATION? The most rewarding aspect of my work is definitely being on the ground and seeing the children and broader beneficiaries of our work. I returned last week from my most recent trip to Uganda and it dawned on me that some of the children who started primary school in 2008 are about to finish. I also really enjoy witnessing our team members both in Australia and Uganda get inspired and excited by the work they do - that energy is infectious! The biggest challenge would have to be managing a growing team and time constraints.
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6. YOU CURRENTLY WORK AS AN ANALYST FOR SOCIAL VENTURES AUSTRALIA. WHAT DOES THE ORGANISATION DO AND WHAT DOES YOUR WORK DAY LOOK LIKE?
As an analyst at Social Ventures Australia I help manage a $10 million social impact fund and we invest that money in Australian based social enterprises. We generate both a financial and social return on our investments and we measure the social impact the enterprises have on our community. My average work day consists of meeting and conducting due diligence in prospective invested enterprises, managing our current investments, cash flow modelling and general fund operations work. I am also involved with assisting our team develop alternative financial structures for social services including social impact bonds. SVA more broadly is a social purpose organisation and has multiple teams, consulting, employment, education and impact investing. The organisation was founded by some of Australia’s largest not-for-profits and strives to build an evidence base on what works in the social space and increase the capital flow to the sector to improve the lives of disadvantaged Australians.
7. WHAT ARE YOUR TIPS FOR LAW STUDENTS WHO ARE FACED WITH THE DIFFICULT AND CONFRONTING DECISION OF CHOOSING A CAREER PATH? It’s never easy trying to work out what you want to do after uni. I think that it’s crucial to try and follow your passions as much as possible and don’t get too caught up in the “I should do this because it’s the right thing to do” mentality and do meaningful work that you enjoy instead. The best job isn’t necessarily the best for everyone and I think law students should think laterally about their career options and definitely not rule out the not-for-profit sector.
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students with experiences 11
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Mission Australia internship By Adam Watterson
Mission Australia is an NGO that performs a broad range of functions within the community including providing housing, family support and employment services to disadvantaged members of the community. The organisation also has a prominent research function that serves as the foundation for policy development, and this is the area in which I interned for 10 weeks as part of my capstone Communications project. As part of this position I was required to conduct research into the government services targeting Youth Unemployment in Australia, and to review evidence assessing the operation of these services, develop possible improvements and alternatives. This work served as the theoretical groundwork upon which policy submissions were made to Education and Employment Ministers in order to shape the Australian youth unemployment landscape. I chose to participate in the organisation because of the direct input the organisation has in shaping government policy. Mission Australia researches, develops and advocates policies in response to social issues that the current government policy fails to adequately address. This political offering, combined with the option to put the research skills leant throughout my Social Inquiry degree made the opportunity very attractive. Having had previous experience
working in law firms, I can say that my position at Mission Australia offered valuable insight into alternative ways that a law degree can be used. The position involved working in a highly collaborative and creative team environment where I was given responsibilities to perform high-level self-directed research that was used meaningfully in shaping policies. Working in an area that interacted directly with politics was exciting, as my colleagues were regularly in and out of meetings with members of Parliament who were in the headlines that week. The position also offered a range of opportunities to engage with other social issues outside my specific role, such as regular attendances at the Human Rights Commission to watch prominent public speakers. From a social perspective, working at an NGO is hard to beat. The organization culture was extremely supportive, with all team members willing to take time out of their day to ask if you need help, or simply just to stop by for a chat. Working at a research-based NGO is a great way to contribute to addressing social issues that you care about, while learning invaluable skills and maintaining an excellent work-life balance. These organisations are often run off the back of volunteers and are always looking for skilled volunteers to help out. Not only this, given this reliance on volunteers there is a genuine appreciation for the work that you do and a
level of responsibility that is often harder to find in private organisations. For anyone interested in getting experience in one of these environments, I would recommend applying to any organisations that you feel connected to for a volunteer position. The skills you pick up are invaluable, the people are great, and you might be surprised at where it can take you.
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A VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE: SALVOS LEGAL By timothy brounet
In January 2013, after having worked in a commercially-oriented law firm for a couple of years, I reached that clichĂŠd point in my studies where I wanted to complement my work and studies with something more socially valuable and rewarding. Fortunately, I was able to find this balance by volunteering at the Auburn Advice Bureau of Salvos Legal. Salvos Legal, unsurprisingly, is part of The Salvation Army. It is inspiring to realise that Salvos Legal grew out of a one-man pro-bono practice that was run by the now managing partner, Luke Geary, from the early 2000s. The pro-bono practice became increasingly popular and, with the help of a host of similarly inspiring and committed lawyers and volunteers, the small pro-bono practice grew into a successful commercial and humanitarian law firm. Salvos Legal has a unique operating model, whereby it uses the net proceeds from its commercial practice to fund the operations of its significant humanitarian (pro-bono) practice. The humanitarian practice operates out of a range of advice bureaus across New South Wales and Queensland with the help of a large number of volunteers (including lawyers and students). These advice bureaus are in turn supported by the full-time humanitarian staff (including paid staff and volunteers/interns) based in the Sydney office.
Since January 2013, I have volunteered at the Auburn Advice Bureau on Monday evenings (usually from 6 - 9pm). The Auburn Advice Bureau attracts more people than any of the other Salvos Legal locations and always provides nothing less than a hectic Monday evening with sometimes 30 or 40 people coming in for advice. Each night, we usually have between 10 and 15 volunteers, being qualified solicitors and students as well as Salvation Army staff. The variety of volunteers results in the provision of a very comprehensive and efficient service with qualified solicitors or migration agents providing legal advice, student volunteers helping with administration and gathering preliminary information from clients and Salvation Army staff running the kitchen and providing a chaplaincy service. I would highly recommend that all law students volunteer at a legal advice service at some point during their studies or career. The experience of volunteering at Salvos Legal has starkly contrasted my other legal experience and has been an incredibly rewarding life experience. Salvos Legal has exposed me to a huge range of legal matters in many disciplines. Common areas of advice include: immigration advice to refugees and other immigrants on humanitarian grounds, criminal law
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matters such as domestic abuse and AVOs, neighbourhood disputes and family law matters. Aside from gaining experience in various areas of law and in dealing with clients, my experience at Salvos Legal also gave me the opportunity to see the alarming effects that changes in government policies have on disadvantaged groups. One particularly distressing example of this was the ramifications for a number of Salvos Legal clients after the then-newly elected Abbott government sought to stop granting protection visas to “unauthorised maritime arrivals”. As a result of this, a number of refugees were left in a very difficult position. They could either accept a Temporary Protection Visa, which would allow them to stay in Australia temporarily but would prevent them from ever obtaining a permanent visa, or challenge their protection visa rejection at the Refugee Review Tribunal, which would likely be unsuccessful given new regulatory limitations in granting visas to “unauthorised maritime arrivals”. This experience gave me a very confronting insight into the alarming impacts that changes in immigration policy can have on refugees and their families, and that government policy changes in general can have on the poor and disadvantaged.
Through working at Salvos Legal I have had the opportunity to meet many inspirational people among the Salvos staff, volunteers and clients and hope that I have made significant contributions to the lives of many disadvantaged individuals. I am far more likely to remember these experiences than the bulk of what I learn at university! For students seeking to become involved in volunteer work, I recommend utilising the network other students at UTS who currently work or have worked in a volunteer role. I also recommend exploring the application processes on the websites for the various bodies such as Salvos Legal. Get involved, you won’t regret it!
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The NSW Young Lawyer's Public Interest Careers Fair By Taryn Priadko
If your career interests lie in the realm of Public Interest Law, or you simply want to be exposed to opportunities outside of the Corporate sphere, you should consider attending the NSW Young Lawyer's Public Interest Careers Fair. It is a great way to get access to little known information about the breadth of opportunities that are available to budding lawyers, and a fantastic opportunity to network with both professionals and like-minded students. 2014 was the inaugural year for this Fair, which was hosted by the NSW Young Lawyer's Society, and held on 10 September 2014, at the Law Society Building on Philip Street. With high attendance rates, and a positive reception overall, it is likely that this event will continue to grow in the coming years. A number of organisations attended, and they represented the diversity of careers available for those who are interested in practising law with a focus on the public interest. On one end of the spectrum stood representatives from various governmental departments, such as the Office of Environment and Housing, and the NSW Law Reform Commission, who conveyed the opportunities that exist for a career in policy development. Alongside these public authorities stood representatives from the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions, the Crown Solicitors Office, and the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, for those who feel
they are more suited to pursuing a career providing an independent, efficient and fair prosecution service to the public. Usually, there are limited internship availabilities with these Departments and authorities, and they are highly competitive. However those that don’t recruit interns will generally have a Graduate Program, which should be applied for if you wish to pursue a career in this area of the law. Across the room, and representing the opposite end of the public interest spectrum, stood a number of non-government organisations, such as the Refuge e Advocacy and Casework Service (RACS), the Amnesty International NSW Legal Action Network and the Australian Red Cross. These organisations presented a range of volunteering opportunities for law students, ongoing professional development and public service opportunities for practitioners, and potential career paths and graduate opportunities for budding law graduates. Also in attendance were representatives from Community Legal Centres, such as Kingsford Legal Centre, and Independent Public Interest Commissions and Organisations such as Women’s Legal Services NSW, and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC). Examining the stalls of each revealed the broad and unique ways in which a law degree can be utilised to cater to some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the community, and a career in social justice can be pursued.
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Their representatives will advise you as to how they individually recruit new volunteers, interns or graduates, as well as any expectations they have of prospective employees. Representing another aspect of public interest legal practice, were private law firms such as Chalk and Fitzgerald and Salvos Legal. Chalk & Fitzgerald is a commercial firm that delivers legal services of indigenous people and organisations, in relation to their lands and waters. Internship opportunities for the firm are available through the Aurora Project. Salvos Legal is a revolutionary legal practice consisting of a commercial law firm providing non-litigious, transactional property, wills and estates and commercial advisory services to fee-paying clients, the revenue firm which is then used to fund Salvos Legal Humanitarian, a pro bono law firm practising in the areas of family, immigration, criminal and administrative law. They offer a four-month voluntary internship for law graduates. Chances are you will probably also hear from some experienced and highly informative keynote speakers. The addresses and this years event were given by Jeremy Styles from the Aboriginal Legal Service, and Jane Sanders from Shopfront Youth Legal Centre. Their insights into public interest legal careers were both honest and inspiring, revealing the challenges and realities of their professional limitations, but the rewards that they see in their daily work. The revealed their own
rationales for pursuing such a career, and revealed the public interest sector as one where advances can, and are, being constantly made. They posited these as opportunities for law graduates who have a particular interest and passion for socially just work. The NSW Young Lawyer’s Society Public Interest Careers Fair is a must for all law students seeking volunteer work and internships with both governmental and non-governmental organisations and authorities, for law graduates seeking to pursue a career providing hands-on legal services to the Australian public, or event for those who are considering pursuing pro bono legal work in conjunction with their daily legal or professional practice. However, be aware that the timing of the Fair, while perfectly placed for graduate and governmental internship program application times, may fall outside of the closing dates for penultimate opportunities, such as internships with the Aurora Project. Any students looking to attend who are wishing to pursue summer internships should therefore conduct some preliminary research – or use this Pro Bono Guide, to ascertain key application dates. All others should come along to broaden their horizons, and to enjoy light refreshments with both peers and professionals interest in Public Interest law.
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REFUGE ADVICE AND CASEWORK SERVICE OUR VISION Asylum seekers and refugees who seek Australia’s protection are able to live their lives with dignity, security, family unity and freedom. OUR ORGANISATION RACS is the pre-eminent and longest running Refugee Community Legal Centre in NSW. Over 26 years, RACS has established a solid reputation as the leading provider of free, expert legal services to asylum seekers & refugees. RACS strives to ensure that individuals and families at risk of persecution gain access to equal and fair representation before the law so they may be granted due protection in accordance with Australia’s international obligations. OUR CLIENTS RACS clients come from a broad range of cultures, originating from over 65 different countries. Despite their diversity, the majority of the people we assist share a common fear of persecution, which they have fled from after being subjected to torment, torture and trauma. The people we help are quite simply the most ordinary of people. They come from every walk of life. They call on RACS to be their voice as they ask Australia to extend to them protection and safety. OUR WORK The successful outcomes achieved by RACS are due in large part to the sensitivity with which our lawyers treat the needs of the people who come to us for help, supporting them through the difficult and
often harrowing process of articulating the stories and fears that drove them to flee from their homeland. RACS provides access to legal services both to asylum seekers in the community and immigration detention. Through individual advice sessions, community education and public advocacy, RACS assists asylum seekers who would otherwise be left to navigate the legal complexities of applying for Australia’s protection on their own. HOW WE ARE FUNDED Up until April 2014, RACS and similar organisations had been funded under the Federal Government’s Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme (IAAAS). Established in 1997, the scheme succeeded in reducing the possibility that a person with genuine protection claims might, contrary to Australia’s international obligations, be returned to danger because of lack of access to independent and professional advice when applying for asylum. The IAAAS program had received bipartisan support prior to the last election. The recent announcement by the Federal government to slash the IAAAS scheme, and remove access to free legal services for the majority of asylum seekers, has immediate and significant consequences for the work performed by RACS, and the future prospects of the vulnerable men, women and children we assist. Always innovative, RACS pre-empted this announcement by establishing a fundraising function within its structure to assist in the transition toward a new funding model. The future of RACS relies on the broad support of individuals and
institutions concerned that the current treatment and politicisation of asylum seekers is inconsistent with the notion of a good society. HOW WE USE OUR FUNDS Casework Service - Protection Visa Applications RACS provides legal casework assistance to eligible disadvantaged asylum seekers through the protection visa application process. RACS lawyers advise and represent clients at each stage of the process - from initiating the application, through to representing clients at the Department of Immigration and the Refugee Review Tribunal. VILLAWOOD OUTREACH APPLICATION ASSISTANCE RACS Outreach service to Villawood assists highly vulnerable people who have been detained and require assistance with protection visa applications. TELEPHONE ADVICE Our telephone advice service is a dedicated immigration advice help line. It provides asylums seekers, family members and concerned community workers with preliminary information and advice. This service receives calls from across Australia and is a crucial point of access for people in remote locations or those being held in offshore detention facilities. FACE-TO-FACE LEGAL ADVICE This one-on-one service provides an opportunity for asylum seekers to see a RACS lawyer for immigration advice and
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assistance. Access to this extended advice service may be facilitated by telephone if asylum seekers are in remote locations or being held in immigration detention facilities. LEGAL HELP FOR REFUGEES CLINIC This clinic provides free advice to asylum seekers who would otherwise not have access to legal services. The project gives clients the opportunity to articulate their protection claims with the assistance of a lawyer in a three hour face-to-face session, documents their personal details and provides them with a written statement of those claims. LEGAL HELP FOR UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN This program aims to provide legal education and assistance to unaccompanied children who have not had access to a lawyer. Unaccompanied children, especially those who have arrived by boat, are often incredibly vulnerable, facing significant disadvantage and poverty. This program has been specifically tailored to the legal needs of children, and provides a lawyer and community liaison officer on-site to take the child’s statement. FAMILY REUNION ADVICE & ASSISTANCE RACS provides advice to refugees wishing to bring their families to Australia. Recognising the need for expert advice on family reunion, RACS established a free clinic to help husbands, wives and children reunite in a place of safety.
PROFILE OF ANTHONY - A PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING VOLUNTEER As an individual interested in championing social justice and human rights, I applied to complete my Practical Legal Training (PLT) placement at the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS). At my interview with a solicitor and RACS’ Outreach and Events Coordinator, their passion to help asylum seekers and refugees, was immediately evident despite the challenging environment in which they work. Asylum seekers are arguably among some the most vulnerable group in our community today. Following the excitement of being told I was successful in my application, I was introduced around the RACS office and was surprised to see how vibrant, diverse and positive the workplace culture was given the serious nature of the legal work RACS does. I found this incredibly refreshing. I was placed under the supervision of the solicitor responsible for representing unaccompanied minors who had arrived to Australia by boat seeking asylum from persecution in their homeland. Whilst I consider myself politically aware, I was surprised at how much I frankly did not know about the plight of those seeking asylum in Australia. Within a day of commencing at RACS I was observing my supervising solicitor conduct interviews with minors, where they would speak of unspeakable stories of abuse and suffering. This challenged any preconceived ideas I had asylum seekers. Soon enough I had the opportunity to engage with clients myself and help them with their formal legal application for
protection or providing further evidence to the Refugee Review Tribunal following their hearing. This was truly rewarding work. As a PLT volunteer, I am tasked with administrative and paralegal responsibilities, from organising appointments and interviewing clients, conducting complex legal research tasks or drafting submissions to the Australian Human Rights Commission and Federal Government concerning a public inquiry or proposed legislation before Parliament. I have volunteered as a PLT with RACS for nearly four months now and feel extremely blessed to have the opportunity to utilise my legal knowledge and skills to assist some of the most inspirational people I have ever met. Ultimately, by helping RACS’ clients and working to serve their best interests, I have not only matured as a professional but more importantly as an individual.
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VOLUNTEER AT COMMUNITY MATES By e m ma marino
Since 2012, Community Mates has tackled the hurdles that slow down everyday people from pursuing their interest or support of not-for-profit (NFP) organisations. Their mission is to shift the public’s perceptions of philanthropy away from a moral initiative toward something fun, interactive and widespread. To achieve this, Community Mates has to date supported 28 not-for profit organisations by offering volunteers in an ongoing, ad hoc way. As such, Community Mates doesn’t charge for its services, and has already contributed over 1118 volunteer hours in WA, NSW, SA, Austria, Guatemala and Dubai, boasting an impressive 150 discrete volunteers. In NSW alone, over 416 hours have been devoted across 9 not-for profit organisations, including A Liquid Future, Beyond Blue, Cupid’s Undie Run, Disabled Surfers Association, Lifestart Cooperative and Schizophrenia Research, to name a few. Perhaps the strongest quality of Community Mates is the absence of any kind of binding model pressured on volunteers. Rather, they are offered simple options that allow people to gauge their
commitment on their own terms. An hour once a year? Great! Every week? Even better. Like the NSW Law Society, and the legal community, Community Mates works unexclusively with not-for profit organisations; it provides financial aid to a medical research charity; support for the underprivileged and disadvantaged; and supports environmental movements, to name a few. Through volunteer work, Community Mates try to touch every corner of philanthropy with the hope of engaging mainstream society. It goes without saying that the reward and humility associated with the work leads to a general wellbeing amongst local communities. A good incentive initiated by the NSW Law Society is ‘Soldier On,’ a program designed by the Australian Defence Force and other government agencies to support wounded soldiers, both standing and retired. Mostly, Soldier On eases the convalescence of soldiers affected physically and psychologically by the vices of war. Community Mates assist not-for-profit organisations similar to Soldier On by raising money or providing volunteers from the local community.
Likewise, the crux of volunteer work is the impression it marks on social awareness. Whether through social media, or physical exposure, or even casual conversation, the recognition of people who involve themselves casually in something like charity work helps conserve our social conscience. We hope to encourage people to hold onto their moral standards. So, students interested in volunteer work should head to the Community Mates home page www.communitymates.org, where you can register a name and email address to receive notifications of upcoming events.
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THE BRENNAN PROGRAM uts law
The Brennan Justice and Leadership Program offers UTS: Law students a well-rounded and unforgettable experience, stretching well beyond the classroom. Perhaps its most unique element is the collaboration between staff and students. The program is co-run by the UTS: Law Faculty, and the UTS LSS. The working relationship between these two bodies is a testament to the mutual respect founded in achieving one goal. In this case, implementing and managing a program that prioritises social justice in legal education. The concept of service is a pillar of the legal profession, and yet, is too often forgotten. The Brennan Program offers students the opportunity and incentive to give back to the community. It reminds us of the law community’s responsibility to help those who were not afforded similar opportunities. The Brennan Program includes two principle components, and requires students to complete both elements in order to qualify for the Award. The first element is the Leadership Through Services hours. This involves hands-on, volunteer work undertaken by students. This work without payment seldom equates to work without reward. By giving up their time, Brennan Program participants can learn the value of helping others and seeing the positive effect that they can have on the world, both locally and globally. The range of activities varies greatly between awardees, displaying the expanse and flexibility of the program. The graduates at the 2014 Brennan Program Awards Night displayed this variety, with students having partaken in initiatives including volunteering at the Aboriginal Legal Service, internships at a public interest law firm in China, and even founding their own charities. Students get out what they put into the program, making
it a tremendously worthwhile experience. With the second program component, the Reflection on Justice points, students are not only encouraged to give up their time to help others, but also to reflect on the contentious issues we are faced with as lawyers-to-be. There are a number of ways to earn points through the program, which is another way in which students can become more involved in university life. First, through the facilitation of small discussion groups, students are offered a comfortable environment where they can discuss these issues, share their opinions and engage with other perspectives. Further, through the Inspirational Careers Lectures, students are able to listen to expert opinions and have an in-depth understanding of problems we face personally (e.g. Hon Greg James AM QC on Law and Mental Health), problems we face nationally (e.g. Professor Gillian Triggs on Australia’s Asylum Seeker Policy), and problems we face internationally (e.g. Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG on Human Rights Violations in North Korea). The Brennan Program is a unique gem that is only offered by UTS: Law. Through it’s dual component system, the program encourages leadership, social integrity and provides a professionally relevant means of getting involved in student life. It is an opportunity for all law students at UTS to engage with the social justice issues that are prevalent to everyone in the legal community.
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a breif how to!
( please see the handbook for more information)
• 5 year course – 200 hours • 4 year course – 160 hours • 3 year course – 120 hours • Any unpaid activity or event in which you volunteer your time and effort for those who need it • To get your hours approved, email brennanprogram@uts.edu.au with the details of what you are doing and how long for • Examples include: o Volunteering in the community (e.g. local festivals, fundraisers, soup kitchens etc.) o One-off volunteer days (e.g. Westmead Children’s Hospital visit, Cancer Council fundraising days) o Overseas volunteering (e.g. 40K, Asia Bound Project) o Volunteering for UTS LSS events (Justice Action Committee) • Only 75% of your total hours for the Brennan Program can come from one year e.g. if your degree is 5 years, and you volunteered for 6 months overseas, only 120 of your volunteer hours could count o This is to encourage students to engage in ongoing volunteer initiatives throughout their degrees • Only volunteering activities engaged with after you signed up to the program can count Volunteer Commitment Activity
Date
Hours
Westmead Children’s Hospital Visit
14/Mar/14
3
Justice Action Committiee
22/Mar/14
2 5
• UTS lectures/seminars ATTENDANCE (5pts) o E.g. Speaker Series, Soapbox events, movie nights etc. o External lectures/seminars, however, must be blogged • Maintained reflective BLOG with at least 7 entries (350 words each; 10pts) • Discussion groups (5 groups; 500 words; 20pts) • Substantive reflections (500-1000 words; 20pts)rtt • Maintained reflective BLOG with at least 7 entries (350 words each; 10pts) • Discussion groups (5 groups; 500 words; 20pts) • Substantive reflections (500-1000 words; 20pts)rtt
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HOMELESS BUT NOT UNNOTICED By Jinan Hammoudi
If you have ever walked through Martin Place, Circular Quay or any surrounding precincts, you’re would have spotted at least one homeless person begging for enough change to get them through another day. A major misconception, of which I have been guilty of, is that drug abuse is the primary cause of homelessness. The reality, however, is that for most homeless people, substance abuse is a consequence and not the cause of their situation, with two thirds developing substance abuse issues after becoming homeless. The main causes of homelessness are a combination of mental, social and economic problems. Even more concerning are the stats - according to the latest ABS statistics, 1 in 200 people in Australia are homeless on any given night. CAUSES Domestic and family violence has been found to be a significant cause of homelessness, making up almost a quarter of those seeking support from homelessness services in 2012-13. When faced with rough and often dangerous environments in their homes, many who decide to leave, wind up on the streets. Associated mental trauma and other mental illness are other significant causes of homelessness. While some may choose to no longer live in their family homes through inability to cope, others may face abandonment, and are forced to find their own means of surviving. Affordability of housing is another
major cause of homelessness. With rising house prices and costs of living, it is almost inevitable that some falter and find it too difficult to make mortgage or even rental repayments. Loss of jobs and financial difficulty place increased strain on individuals, pressuring them to surrender their homes. ISSUES FACED BY THE HOMELESS Besides the obvious breach of the right to adequate housing and standard of living, there are numerous other negative consequences of homelessness. Poor health will almost always result when living in the exposed conditions and overcrowded facilities. Health problems may include poor nutrition, dental health and mental health problems such as depression. In turn, homeless people are often likely to develop substance abuse and other addictions. Social security is also often quite difficult to receive entitlement for by the homeless. Not only would they fail the strict proof of identity requirements, but they face problems receiving mail, and they would likely fail strict obligations, such as attending job interviews. Their exposed nature also gambles their personal safety, being under constant threat of crime such as violence and sexual abuse. This problem is further heightened by their limited access to justice through legal mechanisms, being unable to afford legal representation. They are also likely to face discrimination as alleged offenders, with presumptions against
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bail, and potential negative perceptions from juries. Other rights and opportunities that are foregone as a result of homelessness include a sufficient education, the right to work, and the right to work among others. LEGAL RESPONSES In an attempt to address the issue of homelessness, the Australian Government has entered into a series of ‘high-level Partnership Agreements’, to enable the provision of various programs. Other specific groups funded by the Australian Government include: ‘Centrelink’ for income support; ‘Recconect’ for youth community-based early intervention, the ‘National Homelessness Research’ and a ‘National Quality Framework for services to people who experience homelessness’. The Australian Government also provides a legal service specific to the homeless, called Homeless Outreach Legal Service. It provides advice and representation in a range of areas, such as fines, discrimination, housing and social security. NON LEGAL RESPONSES There are a number of non-government and not-for-profit organisations who offer support and guidance for homeless people. The Australian Red Cross is a vital organisation, which aims to prevent homelessness, by helping people to
maintain their housing, as well as provide accommodation for those who have become homeless. It also offers services of information provision, re-integration, and youth specific housing and services. The Salvation Army also offers support with a focus on targeting the root of the issue. It aims to remove people from the situation of homelessness through a ‘continuum of care’ from ‘early intervention, crisis accommodation, medium term care, and a range of counseling and rehabilitation services’. Support such as this is crucial in giving homeless people an opportunity to end the vicious cycle, which they would otherwise be unable to end alone. Sydney Homeless Connect, is another helpful not-for-profit organisation, which connects homeless people to important services and support. It hosts a one-day event at Sydney Town Hall where homeless persons may attend and be connected to various services, as well as treatment, such as medical and dental. Legal advice and support is also offered by not-for-profit organsations, in various areas of law, including criminal law, to provide advice and represent the homeless. Homeless Persons’ Legal Service and Justice Connect are examples of such organisations. HOW YOU CAN HELP! There are many opportunities to assist, as most of the not-for-profit organisations are volunteer-run and rely on
donations. Visit the Sydney Homeless Connect website for registration to volunteer on June 3rd to connect homeless people with their required services. You may also donate items to be provided to the homeless, such as blankets, clothing, shoes, backpacks, toiletries and more. As a law student, you may also choose to donate your time as a volunteer at various not-for-profit homeless legal clinics, such as Justice Connect, and provide services such as advice and support.