Volunteer Roles

Last updated 19/2/2025

Global Youth Consultations — WTO Young Trade Leaders

The Global Youth Consultations, led by WTO Young Trade Leaders, provide a platform for young people worldwide to engage in discussions on international trade, gender, and human rights at the prestigious World Trade Organization (WTO). This fully-remote initiative ensures that youth perspectives contribute to shaping global trade policies.

This opportunity is open to students, young professionals, and emerging leaders interested in international trade, public policy, and advocacy. It is a great way to build you CV with no prior experience required - just a passion for global issues and meaningful dialogue.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

  • Contribute to high-level discussions on trade, policy, human rights, and economic justice

  • Engage with experts and peers from diverse backgrounds

  • Attend a featured plenary session with Ambassador to the WTO and Sydney Law alumnus, Mr. James Baxter PSM

  • Help shape recommendations that will inform a report on global trade issues shared with WTO senior leadership

Criteria: Participants must be under the age of 30 and residing in Australia

Start Date: 1 April 2025

Application Deadline: 1 April 2025

Sign up to the Zoom Registration Link: https://worldtradeorganization.zoom.us/meeting/register/_-sxzk_fTh6zdz0nPEVwVw#/registration

Contact details: brittenphoebe@gmail.com

Further information: https://worldtradeorganization.zoom.us/meeting/register/_-sxzk_fTh6zdz0nPEVwVw#/registration

Practical Legal Training Placements — Justice and Equity Centre

The Justice and Equity Centre is a leading social justice law and policy centre. We build a fairer, stronger society by helping to change laws, policies and practices that cause injustice and inequality. We offer a diverse and inclusive workplace where wellbeing is actively promoted, and flexibility is supported.

The JEC is currently recruiting for Practical Legal Training (PLT) placements. The placements are unpaid, however reasonable travel costs are reimbursed. PLT Placements will have an opportunity to work with lawyers and policy officers across our organisation:

  • Our Strategic Litigation team conducts high impact strategic litigation that achieves positive outcomes for disadvantaged people. We bring test cases that create important legal precedents and advocate for policy and law reform to protect human rights and promote social justice.

  • Our Homeless Persons’ Legal Service provides free legal assistance for people experiencing homelessness. This includes a criminal law practice that aims to divert clients from the criminal justice system. HPLS helps reduce homelessness by tackling legal and systemic barriers that prevent people from accessing and maintaining appropriate, secure housing.

  • Our Towards Truth team uses legal research and analysis to deliver a unique and ground-breaking truth-telling project that shows the impact of laws and government policies on First Nations people since 1788. You can learn more about Towards Truth Project by visiting www.towardstruth.org.au.

Volunteer PLT Placements contribute to the provision of a successful, innovative, and responsive legal practice by assisting with litigation and policy advocacy that drives law reform and systems change.

Responsibilities vary but can include:

  • Assisting with legal drafting

  • Conducting research for casework and policy projects

  • Interacting with clients

  • Managing case files

  • Liaising with stakeholders including police, courts and corrections

Applications

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with disability are strongly encouraged to apply.

Your application should be no longer than five pages. An application should comprise:

  • A cover letter addressing the selection criteria included in the position description

  • A current CV

  • A copy of your academic transcript

Please send your application to placements@jec.org.au, including ‘PLT Placement’ in the subject field.
Applications close on 28 February 2025, with placements commencing in March 2025.

Inquiries should be directed to Kate Sinclair, Solicitor, via placements@jec.org.au.

Practical Legal Training Placements — Brander Smith McKnight Lawyers

Brander Smith McKnight Lawyers are looking for PLT students for our Sutherland office. We are a well respected generalist law firm with highly experienced lawyers based in Sutherland with offices also in Parramatta, Wollongong and Sydney. Our main areas of law are Construction, Commercial and Business, Civil Litigation, Property, Criminal, Family and Wills and Estates. We have flexible PLT arrangements, a very friendly and collaborative team, modern offices and facilities, secure onsite parking and close to public transport. Note: our first volunteer is now working as a tippy for a Supreme Court Judge after his placement with us. Also note: our second volunteer is now working as a paralegal for Sparke Helmore Lawyers after his placement with us. Further note: our third volunteer is now working with us.

Duration: 75 days

Application Deadline: 31 March 2025

Please send your covering letter and your resume to Dana Smith, Director at danasmith@bsmlaw.com.au and williamonishi@bsmlaw.com.au

Paralegal — The Racial Justice Centre

The Racial Justice Centre (RJC) is Australian first community legal service focussed on race. We are an integrated organisation dedicated to eliminating racial discrimination in all forms, providing redress for those subject to discrimination. We are committed to using strategic litigation as a vehicle for pursuing and elevating the need for racial justice in the public domain, we are involved in thought leadership and community building.

Are you passionate about justice and empowering marginalised voices? Do you believe that everyone deserves equal access to the legal system and the most basic rights to life, work and thrive individually and collectively? Are you tired of hearing discrimination swept under the rug by the media, government, workplaces and institutions? From those with a newly formed interest to those deeply invested in eradicating racial discrimination, we invite you to join our team at RJC.

We are seeking legal and non-legal volunteers to work alongside and support a dynamic team of lawyers, subject matter experts in anti-discrimination law as well as like-minded university students and many professional volunteers in people, operations and marketing. Your efforts in assisting with legal research, drafting documents, law reform submissions, grant writing and supporting clients to assert their rights, directly contributing to fighting for racial justice in our community.

The successful candidate must be available for an immediate start. This role presents the opportunity to work directly with the Solicitors and with many other volunteers to gain invaluable practical experience in human rights law and building a social justice movement.

Before applying, please ensure you meet the below essential criteria: studying at university, minimum WAM of 75%; able to commit to 7-8 hours per week (one full day or two half days) in Sydney close to the CBD; excellent written and verbal communication skills; highly independent and proactive; a genuine passion for racial justice and racial equality. Please note that extracurricular involvement and prior experience in a legal setting are not required but favourable.

If interested, please email your CV & Academic Transcript to info@racialjustice.au