Practical Legal Training Students - Homeless Law
Justice Connect's Homeless Law is Victoria's specialist free legal service for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. We are recruiting part‑time Practical Legal Training (PLT) students (2–3 days per week) for a minimum of 50 days total, in our Melbourne office, with start dates in early 2026.
Key Responsibilities
* Develop practical and procedural legal experience and skills across practice areas relating to Homeless Law.
Communications
* Intake new telephone and online enquiries.
* Take instructions and communicate with clients.
* Assess matters for clinic appointments, draft letters and draft memos for appointments.
* Deliver supervised legal information to clients.
* Support the work of lawyers (internal and secondee lawyers) including communicating with case workers and the courts/tribunals, and draft referral memoranda.
Shadowing Lawyers
* Observe client appointments.
* Shadow Homeless Law lawyers at VCAT and Magistrates Court hearings.
Data‑inputting
* Input and maintain accurate client information on Homeless Law's case‑management platform, Microsoft Dynamics.
Advocacy and Research
* Legal research, analysis and problem solving.
* Contribute to Homeless Law's law reform, advocacy or project work.
Organisational Contribution
* Support Justice Connect's Reconciliation Action Plan, equity and inclusion objectives, and organisational values.
* Collaborate with other Justice Connect teams and participate in cross‑program initiatives that support shared impact goals.
* Demonstrate behaviours aligned with Justice Connect's values.
Workplace Health and Safety
* Take all reasonable care regarding the health and safety of yourself and others in the workplace and ensure compliance with policies or procedures.
Desired Capabilities
* Interest in human rights law and relevant issues.
* Interest in holistically integrated legal services.
* Knowledge or interest in community legal centre work.
* Willingness to develop and apply new skills.
* Supportive and cooperative team member.
* Ensure clients, stakeholders, and colleagues are kept informed of progress and issues.
* Develop positive relationships with clients based on empathy, respect and fairness.
* Work responsibly within the limits of your own role and capabilities.
* Perform work in accordance with set guidelines and procedures.
* Seek feedback from clients, stakeholders and colleagues to reflect and improve on your work.
Selection Criteria and Important Information
* You must have completed your law degree.
* You are currently completing your Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (through College of Law or an equivalent institution).
Qualifications
* You must have completed your law degree.
* You are currently completing your Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (through College of Law or an equivalent institution).
Lawyers will not be considered.
PLT positions are unpaid.
Please upload your resume and a cover letter. Include your available start date, your preferred days, how many days you can commit to, and the details of your GDLP provider.
We will interview and recruit PLT students on a rolling basis. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as we will close applications when we have recruited enough students.
We know our team and our organisation are stronger with a diversity of backgrounds and experience, including lived experience of the issues we work on. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people of colour, people from culturally and linguistically diverse and refugee backgrounds, people with diverse religious beliefs, gender‑diverse people, LGBTQIA+ people and people living with a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.
Justice Connect's offices are located on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation, and the Gadigal peoples of the Eora Nation. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
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