beyond the billable hour careers in the community legal sector Federation of Community Legal Centres
What’s a community legal centre? Community legal centres (CLCs) are independent community organisations that provide free legal services to the public. Each year CLCs provide free legal advice, information and representation to more than 100,000 Victorians. CLC clients face economic, social or cultural disadvantage and their life circumstances are often severely affected by their legal problem. They often have nowhere else to go for help. CLCs integrate assistance for individual clients with community legal education, community development and law reform projects. There is a strong focus on empowering individuals and creating positive changes within the broader community. The Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria is the peak body for Victoria’s CLCs. Our website www.communitylaw.org.au has information on community legal centres and contact details for each centre.
Making a real difference Community legal centres offer the chance to perform rewarding social justice and human rights work in a dynamic environment. Working in a community legal centre is about making a real difference to people’s lives through the law. We provide opportunities to get involved in a range of justice work beyond legal advice and representation. Centres regularly conduct legal education projects and policy and law reform work aimed at developing a fairer legal system. An outstanding feature of the work of a lawyer in a community legal centre is the diversity of the clients, cases and issues. One day you might
48
be obtaining an intervention order in court to protect a client from family violence. The next, you might be conducting a workshop for the Sudanese community on child protection laws and the day after you might be drafting a submission to government on how to strengthen the protection of human rights in Australia. As well as a broad range of stimulating and challenging work, community legal centre positions can offer flexible work hours, regular professional development opportunities and generous charity tax benefits. To succeed as a community lawyer requires dedication, innovation, resourcefulness, a commitment to excellence, great communication skills and a passion for social justice.
Graduate positions and traineeships There are regular opportunities for qualified lawyers in Victorian community legal centres, although positions for law graduates are currently limited. The Federation of Community Legal Centres received funding to commence a law graduate scheme in Victorian CLCs. The scheme includes a practical legal training course and rotations through a number of CLCs during a 12 month position. The scheme has been funded for 2010 and 2011, and we hope to be able to offer one or more positions for graduates completing their studies in 2011. For further details see www. communitylaw.com.au Fitzroy Legal Service annually recruits a trainee generously supported by Allens Arthur Robinson. This position is advertised annually on their website www.fitzroy–legal.org.au