Volunteer at the ICLC
As a small community legal centre, we rely on volunteer solicitors, law students, and community members to help us provide essential legal services to people who may otherwise struggle to access justice.
Volunteer Solicitor
Help us to provide quality legal advice to our community
ICLC recognises the enormous contribution made by these volunteers who give generously of their time on regular rosters at the Centre.
We only have limited openings for additional volunteers throughout the year, but encourage you to submit an expression of interest.
What areas of law can I help in?
Our volunteer solicitors provide advice according to their skills and experience. This may be providing advice on fines, criminal law, employment law, debt, discrimination, harassment, administrative law, victims compensation, contract, motor vehicle accidents, family law and more.
When and where are advices provided?
Our volunteer solicitors usually provide advice on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Most advices are delivered in business hours, however we have also have evening clinics.
All of our advices by volunteers are delivered by phone so you can volunteer from the comfort of your home or office!
All of our advices by volunteers are delivered by phone so you can volunteer from the comfort of your home or office!
What we expect from you during an advice
Volunteer lawyers are expected to call the clients at the agreed time. While we understand that illness and other demands can make this difficult, we are unable to accommodate volunteers on the roster who cannot provide regular advices.
We expect that you conduct at least one phone advice session per fortnight. During your advice session, you are expected to interview the client and provide relevant legal advice, accurately record advice given on the appropriate forms, obtain accurate information for our statistics, and to follow Professional Indemnity Insurance requirements.
We expect that you conduct at least one phone advice session per fortnight. During your advice session, you are expected to interview the client and provide relevant legal advice, accurately record advice given on the appropriate forms, obtain accurate information for our statistics, and to follow Professional Indemnity Insurance requirements.
How to apply
Please email supervisor@iclc.org.au with the following documents:
(1) Resume
(2) Application Form
(3) Practicing Certificate (if applicable)
Please note: Section 122 of Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) requires persons seeking to work or volunteer at a legal practice to disclose any previous convictions for ‘serious offences’. Please see the Act for the definition of ‘serious offences’. Section 122 of Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) also requires anyone who is a ‘disqualified person’ seeking to work or volunteer at a legal practice to disclose that they are a ‘disqualified person’. See the Act for the definition of ‘disqualified person’.
(1) Resume
(2) Application Form
(3) Practicing Certificate (if applicable)
Please note: Section 122 of Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) requires persons seeking to work or volunteer at a legal practice to disclose any previous convictions for ‘serious offences’. Please see the Act for the definition of ‘serious offences’. Section 122 of Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) also requires anyone who is a ‘disqualified person’ seeking to work or volunteer at a legal practice to disclose that they are a ‘disqualified person’. See the Act for the definition of ‘disqualified person’.
Intake Volunteers
Law students comprise the majority of our intake volunteers!
Volunteering is a great way to learn practical skills and help link the communities ICLC serves with appropriate legal assistance. ICLC greatly appreciates the commitment and hard work of all of the volunteers.
What does the role involve?
Volunteer law students attend the centre in Kings Cross on a weekly basis for a half or full day shift. You'll work alongside other volunteers, supervised by our client intake supervisor. Your main role is to conduct intakes for new clients, answer phones and emails, and basic administrative tasks.
Volunteer law students are the first point of contact for ICLC’s clients, and are responsible for making appropriate appointments and referrals, under supervision.
Volunteer law students are the first point of contact for ICLC’s clients, and are responsible for making appropriate appointments and referrals, under supervision.
Selection Criteria
Essential criteria:
+ Completion of at least two years of a combined undergraduate law degree, or at least one year of a graduate law degree.
+ Commitment to social justice.
+ Ability to commit to weekly half or full day shifts for at least 6 months (please also indicate days you are available).
+ Ability to work with clients from diverse backgrounds and in diverse circumstances, including clients in stressful situations and who may present with challenging behaviours.
+ Understanding of legal professional practice issues, including conflict checking and duties to maintain confidentiality.
+ Ability to work independently and as part of a small team.
+ Demonstrated interest in legal issues affecting communities served by ICLC.
Desirable criteria:
+ Prior experience volunteering.
+ Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds
+ Experience in administration or customer service.
+ Completion of at least two years of a combined undergraduate law degree, or at least one year of a graduate law degree.
+ Commitment to social justice.
+ Ability to commit to weekly half or full day shifts for at least 6 months (please also indicate days you are available).
+ Ability to work with clients from diverse backgrounds and in diverse circumstances, including clients in stressful situations and who may present with challenging behaviours.
+ Understanding of legal professional practice issues, including conflict checking and duties to maintain confidentiality.
+ Ability to work independently and as part of a small team.
+ Demonstrated interest in legal issues affecting communities served by ICLC.
Desirable criteria:
+ Prior experience volunteering.
+ Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds
+ Experience in administration or customer service.
How to apply
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please download the Volunteer Student Application form below and email it, along with a written statement addressing the selection criteria (maximum of 350 words) and your resume, to supervisor@iclc.org.au.
Applications that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered. We may also seek contact details for two referees before finalising any placement.
Applications that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered. We may also seek contact details for two referees before finalising any placement.
Practical Legal Training Students (PLT)
Complete your PLT work experience with ICLC and make a difference in our community
"The ICLC is unlike any other place I’ve ever worked. All of the staff are so warm and welcoming and are incredibly generous with their time when it comes to the PLTs and volunteer students."
"Every day at ICLC brings something different, but there is always a strong sense that the work you are doing is making a real difference to people’s lives."
– PLT student, 2020
About the role
We take on 3-4 volunteer PLT students at any one time. This is an opportunity for students to experience legal practice and consider professional responsibilities in a vibrant and inclusive community legal setting.
The position is unpaid, with a focus on your learning and development. We aim to prepare our students to commence a legal career.
Our PLT students work anywhere from 2-4 days per week and preference is given to those with at least 60 days left of their work experience requirements.
The position is unpaid, with a focus on your learning and development. We aim to prepare our students to commence a legal career.
Our PLT students work anywhere from 2-4 days per week and preference is given to those with at least 60 days left of their work experience requirements.
What will I do during my placement?
The PLT Program duties include meeting clients, taking instructions, and supporting solicitors to give legal advice. You will also be involved in casework, potentially including court attendance, drafting legal correspondence and following up client matters. You will be doing real legal work under the supervision of the ICLC solicitors.
We try to ensure you are get experience across all areas of the ICLC, however if you have an area of particular interest, feel free to let us know.
Pre-requisite
Completion or near-completion of a law degree and eligibility to commence the practical experience components of Practical Legal Training, with a minimum of 55 days of supervised legal training to complete.
It may be possible to complete part of a PLT placement before graduation – you need to check with your proposed provider to see how many days you could complete.
It may be possible to complete part of a PLT placement before graduation – you need to check with your proposed provider to see how many days you could complete.
Selection Criteria
+ Commitment to social justice.
+ Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
+ Ability to work with clients from diverse backgrounds and in diverse circumstances, including clients in stressful situations and who may present with challenging behaviours.
+ Understanding of legal professional practice issues, including duties to maintain confidentiality and to raise practice issues with your supervisor.
+ Ability to work independently and as part of a small team.
+ Demonstrated interest in legal issues affecting communities served by ICLC.
Desirable criteria:
+ Experience volunteering with the ICLC or another legal service.
+ Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds
+ Experience in administration or customer service.
+ Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
+ Ability to work with clients from diverse backgrounds and in diverse circumstances, including clients in stressful situations and who may present with challenging behaviours.
+ Understanding of legal professional practice issues, including duties to maintain confidentiality and to raise practice issues with your supervisor.
+ Ability to work independently and as part of a small team.
+ Demonstrated interest in legal issues affecting communities served by ICLC.
Desirable criteria:
+ Experience volunteering with the ICLC or another legal service.
+ Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds
+ Experience in administration or customer service.
How to apply
To apply, please email Mel at supervisor@iclc.org.au
Applications should include a copy of your CV and a written statement briefly addressing each of the selection criteria (maximum of 2 pages). We will also seek contact details for two referees before finalising any placement. Applications that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview.
ICLC’s human resources policies, procedures and practices support anti-discrimination principles and we especially encourage applications from people living with a disability, people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, people from diverse cultural backgrounds and people identifying as LGBTIQ. Please contact Mel at supervisor@iclc.org.au or phone the centre on 02 9332 1966 if you require adjustment to the recruitment process.
As part of your application, please let us know if there is anything that we should know about you that may cause an issue to arise under s 121 or any other section of the Legal Profession Uniform Law.
Applications should include a copy of your CV and a written statement briefly addressing each of the selection criteria (maximum of 2 pages). We will also seek contact details for two referees before finalising any placement. Applications that do not address the selection criteria will not be considered.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview.
ICLC’s human resources policies, procedures and practices support anti-discrimination principles and we especially encourage applications from people living with a disability, people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, people from diverse cultural backgrounds and people identifying as LGBTIQ. Please contact Mel at supervisor@iclc.org.au or phone the centre on 02 9332 1966 if you require adjustment to the recruitment process.
As part of your application, please let us know if there is anything that we should know about you that may cause an issue to arise under s 121 or any other section of the Legal Profession Uniform Law.
Event Volunteers
For the volunteer who loves getting out in the community!
Event volunteers help the ICLC at special events like Mardi Gras, Fair Day, community outreaches, fundraising and more!
Join our event volunteer mailing list and we'll get in touch when we need your help!
Subscribe to our mailing list at the bottom of this page!
Become a Member
Support the ICLC by becoming a member today!
ICLC Membership
As an ICLC Member, you'll be able to:
+ Vote at the Annual General Meeting;
+ Vote on ICLC constitutional changes;
+ Vote to elect the ICLC Board of Directors; and
+ Stand for election as a Board Member.
+ Vote at the Annual General Meeting;
+ Vote on ICLC constitutional changes;
+ Vote to elect the ICLC Board of Directors; and
+ Stand for election as a Board Member.
How to apply
To become a member please download and complete the Membership Application form and complete payment (details in application form).
Email your appliation form and proof of payment to iclc@iclc.org.au with the subject ‘Member application’; or
Post to:
Centre Director ICLC
PO Box 25
Kings Cross NSW 1335
Email your appliation form and proof of payment to iclc@iclc.org.au with the subject ‘Member application’; or
Post to:
Centre Director ICLC
PO Box 25
Kings Cross NSW 1335
