Volunteer Roles
Last updated 12/11/2024
UN Human Rights Interns (Geneva) — United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-terrorism
Interns are sought at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva to primarily assist Professor Ben Saul as the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-terrorism (see https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-terrorism). Two Sydney Law students have already successfully completed internships. Interns are supervised daily by the Special Rapporteur's full-time staff in Geneva and the Special Rapporteur. The work is challenging and diverse and involves monitoring 193 states and 46 United Nations entities for compliance with human rights while countering terrorism, including through assessing individual complaints of violations, reviewing national legislation, research for annual thematic reports to the General Assembly and Human Rights Council, research for official country visits, attending briefings and meetings, drafting speeches and media releases, and diplomatic engagement. Internships are unpaid but Sydney Law School is likely to fund a return economy airfare. Some work will also be undertaken for other thematic special rapporteurs. More information about the internship program in general is here: https://www.ohchr.org/en/work-and-study-opportunities/internships
Applicants to the United Nations internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
(a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or,
(b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent).
Start Date: 1/01/2025
Rate of Pay: Unpaid. Return economy airfare may be paid by Sydney Law School
Duration/Employment Type: Full-time. Ideally 6 months. 3 months also considered.
How to Apply: Initially - email ben.saul@sydney.edu.au with CV & uni transcript
Contact Details for any Questions/Enquiries: Email ben.saul@sydney.edu.au
Online Internship — PW Lawyers
The PW Lawyers online internship program offers law students the opportunity to gain practical legal experience from their own location. The internship program uses a variety of digital tools to allow interns the ability to learn and be mentored by the experienced team at PW Lawyers. Our team of lawyers will provide guidance and support throughout the internship.
Interns will have the opportunity to learn legal skills, build professional connections and enhance their job prospects. It will give law students an opportunity to gain practical experience in a legal environment. Our internship aims to enhance students’ understanding of legal practice, develop professional skills and be exposed to different areas of law.
All interns will undertake an online orientation session where they will be introduced to PW Lawyers and provided with information about how the online internship will operate. The internship will cover:
An introduction to working in a law firm (1- 15 days)
An introduction into legal research, note taking and advising clients (15-30 days)
An introduction to drafting and preparing documents (30 – 45 days)
Preparation for legal practice (45 – 60 days)
A study into the legal area of choice (60-75 days).
To be eligible for the PW Lawyers online internship program you must be:
Enrolled in a recognised law program (LLB, LPAB Diploma of Law or JD).
Have completed a minimum of two years of the law program.
Have an interest in legal practice.
Start Date: 4/02/2025
Rate of Pay: Unpaid
Duration of Internship: All interns must complete a minimum of 15 working days to be deemed as completing the internship. Extended programmes are offered for interns who wish to complete more working days.
How to Apply: Law students can send a resumé and cover letter to the practice manager at PW Lawyers via email at admin@pwlawyers.com.au. Students will also be asked to provide their academic transcript, photo identification and contact details for someone who has known them for an extended period of time.
Contact Details for any Questions/Enquiries: For more information, please contact PW Lawyers on (02) 9415 8192 or admin@pwlawyers.com.au.
Law Student Volunteer — Ability Rights Centre
Ability Rights Centre (ARC) is a community legal centre. It provides legal and advocacy services for people living with disability in NSW. It is a free service.
ARC is operated by the Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS).
Role Description:
Voluntary work (i.e. no wages)
Work in our office in Sydney CBD (i.e. not from home)
Work is supervised by a solicitor
Duties:
Client intake and interviewing, by phone or in person
Assisting solicitors and NDIS Appeals advocates follow up on client matters
Research related to client matters and/or to law and policy reform activities
Assisting with community legal education projects and related research
Assisting with general centre administration
Other projects and tasks that arise as part of the centre’s operation
Desirable Attributes:
Undertaking tertiary legal studies
Understanding of and commitment to social justice
Experience in administration and/or customer service
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Appreciation of ethical practice issues affecting community legal centre workers, including confidentiality obligations and conflicts of interest
Ideal Start Date: 2/12/2024
Rate of Pay: Unpaid
Employment Duration/Type: Casual, ongoing
Application Deadline: 20/12/2024
How to Apply: Please send the following documents to arc@idrs.org.au: - A one-page expression of interest indicating availability - A resume including education, relevant experience and referees (include name, relationship and contact details). - Your academic transcript. If you have any questions, please email arc@idrs.org.au. All volunteer roles are subject to satisfactory results from a criminal record check. Website: www.abilityrights.org.au Address: Suite 459/311 Castlereagh St, Sydney, NSW, 2000. Phone: 02 9265 6350
Contact Details for any Questions/Enquiries: arc@idrs.org.au, 02 9265 6350
Please view this document for further information.
Legal Intern — Lincoln Legal Pty Ltd
About Us:
Lincoln Legal Pty Ltd is a reputable and dynamic law firm located in the heart of Sydney. We focus on family law, conveyancing, litigation, etc. Our team is dedicated to providing top-tier legal services with a commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and professional growth.
Position Overview:
We are seeking highly motivated law students or recent graduates to join our team as legal interns. This volunteer role is perfect for students looking to gain practical experience in a fast-paced law firm environment. As an intern, you will work closely with our experienced legal team, assisting with legal research, document preparation, client correspondence, and various administrative duties.
Key Responsibilities:
Conduct legal research and assist in drafting legal documents
Support our lawyers in court preparation and case file management
Assist with conveyancing matters and other transactional legal work
Prepare case summaries and legal correspondence
Attend client meetings and take detailed notes
Assist with filing, scanning, and general administrative tasks
Other tasks as directed by senior staff and legal assistants
Requirements:
Current enrollment in a law degree or recent graduate
Strong academic performance
Excellent research and writing skills
Strong attention to detail and organizational abilities
Ability to work independently and within a team
A keen interest in gaining practical legal experience
Commitment to working two days per week (flexible scheduling available)
Previous legal experience is not required but will be viewed favorably
Rate of Pay: Unpaid
Employment Type: Casual Volunteer - 2 days per week
How to Apply: Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your experience and suitability for this role to andrew@lincolnlegal.com.au.
Contact Details for any Questions/Enquiries: andrew@lincolnlegal.com.au
Academic Tutor — Inspire Tomorrow Education
Inspire Tomorrow Education is a not-for-profit that aims to bridge gaps in tertiary education access by providing free tutoring and scholarship application support to high-school students experiencing barriers to education. Our mission is to empower future changemakers, foster diversity in professional fields, and promote education as a fundamental human right in Australia.
Join our team! Are you a university student or recent graduate? Whether you're an experienced tutor looking to make a difference in a young person's life or wanting to learn how to tutor to give your resume an edge, we have a place for you. By working with Inspire Tomorrow Education, you earn a LinkedIn Badge and have the opportunity to expand your professional network by joining a team of accomplished community leaders.
Criteria
To tutor with ITE, you must have graduated from a NSW high-school within the past 5 years and have achieved a Band 5 or Band 6 in the subject(s) you'd like to tutor.
Key responsibilities:
Communicating with your student to organise lesson times
Conduct one-on-one tutoring sessions to provide assessment or content help
Offer assistance to learners based on their unique needs and learning styles
Core competencies:
Passion for improving educational equity
Strong interpersonal and organisational skills
Ability to work cohesively and with empathy alongside diverse students
Previous tutoring experience preferred, but not necessary!
Start Date: 1/06/2024
Rate of Pay: Unpaid
Employment Duration: 1 year
How to Apply: Fill out the short application form: https://forms.gle/XpmwFjDJVFSNhh7e9
Contact Details for any Questions/Enquiries: Email inspiretomorroweducation@gmail.com