Volunteer Opportunities

UPDATE: WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY RECRUITING

We are due to commence recruitment of our second intake of volunteers in late February 2009.

We currently have a waiting list of volunteers

General Information

Monash-Oakleigh Legal Service (MOLS) operates a new ‘Advice Only’ session on Wednesday nights. It is staffed entirely by volunteers who are required to attend once fortnightly. Our practice areas are varied, and include family law, criminal law, motor vehicle accidents, debt, contract and employment matters, neighbourhood disputes and social security problems. The Night Service begins at 6.30pm until approximately 9.00pm, and all clients are seen by prior appointment only.

Session structure

A night session is comprised of:

• A supervisor, who is a practising solicitor or barrister;
• The Volunteer Coordinator (Deputy Supervisor)
• 4 volunteer paralegals (law students in the early stages of their degree)
• 1 Duty Student (reception/admin duties)

Probation & Training

New student volunteers are placed on probation for a period of four sessions, during which they will receive ongoing training.During this time volunteers interview clients under the supervision of an experienced student/mentor. In addition,our volunteers attendseminars which are designed to provide a wider legal and/or social perspective and experience in skills such as interviewing, negotiating and advocacy.At the end of probation, an informal review will be conducted and probationary paralegals will be retained as volunteer paralegals at the discretion of the Volunteer Coordinator.

Reserves

In addition to the eight volunteers paralegals, MOLS recruits 8 reserve paralegals who undergo the same training and seminar program. Reserve paralegals are called up as required when volunteer paralegals are unable to attend. If possible, during the six month commitment a specific reserve paralegal session is organised to ensure reserves obtain client interviewing experience.

What you can expect

Paralegals conduct client interviews (usually 1-2 a night), take instructions, under take legal research, and provide advice to clients after consultation with the Supervisor. All paralegals have the opportunity to request additional training/assistance from both mentors/supervisors. All paralegalsundertakeadministrative/legal secretarial duties when rostered as Duty Student.

What we expect

• A passion and dedication to the law and legal issues within the community legal service context
• Analytical strength/problem solving abilities
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, and client-service
• Sensitivity to, and the ability to deal with, diverse cultures and backgrounds
• Ability to empower clients to take ownership and, as far as possible, resolve problems independently
• Knowledge of, and support for, the mission of MOLS.
• A commitment to one session a fortnight for a period of six months. (Be aware that sessions may extend past 8:30pm)

*NB. Prior volunteering or relevant work experience is not essential. Further, failure to attend any session as a paralegal will result in immediate termination.

For further information please contact Guillaume Bailin, Volunteer Coordinator on (03) 9905 4336