PLT Program 2025 - ELF Project

The Empowering Legal Futures (ELF) Project will facilitate two law graduates, who are experiencing hardship, undertake their Practical Legal Training as part of their Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at Ruah Legal Services. The position offers invaluable experiential learning opportunities that equip graduates with practical skills essential for a successful legal career.

The position is a volunteer position that provides scholarship funds to help graduates pay for their Practice Legal Training Course (i.e. College of Law, Piddington, Leo Cussen, Curtin etc). Ruah Legal Services will facilitate the Practical Legal Training component of the graduate’s course but it is essential the graduate themselves secures a position in a program prior to commencing their volunteer work with Ruah Legal Services.

Please note one of the positions will prioritise a student of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background.

Key Tasks, Objectives, and Responsibilities

Mission and Values

• Demonstrate ethical behaviour and decision making
• Relate to all staff, volunteers, clients and contractors with courtesy and respect.
• Take responsibility for own actions and behaviours.
• Operate within Ruah Legal Services (RLS) policies and procedures.

Responsibilities regarding the Legal Practice

• Reporting to their assigned Supervising Lawyer, the PLT Graduate works to support RLS’ aims by assisting lawyers with their ongoing casework and working on the Telephone Advice Line (TAL).
• Some duties of the PLT graduate may include:
• Draft legal advice, initial letters and court documents;
• Conducting legal research and reviewing disclosure and relevant documents;
• Attending court and tribunal hearings, and client interviews with lawyers (to observe and take notes when directed).
• Shadowing lawyers at court, tribunals, mediations and client meetings; 
• Filing in court documents; 
• Drafting documentation; 
• Drafting letters; 
• Drafting written legal advice under supervision of the lawyers; 
• Time recording their work; 
• Learning about file management and the RLS’ file management system; 
• File noting their work (for example file note phone calls they have with clients or tasks they complete); and 
• Operating the Telephone Advice Line. 

Communication

• Promote, participate in and contribute to a supportive team environment.
• Build relationships based on trust and respect for every person.
• Work as an effective and valued member of the RLS team.
• Work in a culturally secure and appropriate way.
• Ensure effective communication and information sharing to and from the RLS manager.

Selection Criteria

Essential

It is essential that applicants who apply for the position are experiencing or have experienced financial hardship.

It is also expected that the successful applicant will be able to demonstrate the following: 

• Exceptional time management skills and demonstrated ability to prioritise tasks.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work co-operatively.
• Willingness and ability to work within and contribute to the vision, mission, core values and the guiding principles of the organisation.
• Exceptional attention to detail.

Desirable

• Experience working in a community legal centre.
• Experience working with people with living with multiple disadvantages.
• Experience with integrated approaches to legal practice which involve collaboration with non-legal support services.

What do we offer?

• An extensive learning and development program.
• An opportunity to be part of a fun and enthusiastic team who are passionate about the work they do.
• Opportunities to be active in the Ruah Community such as participating in a wide range of working groups, joining us at Pride events, being a part of a range of cultural events to promote and support reconciliation and much, much more!

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying please apply via Livehire. You must enclose the following in your application:

1. A completed RLS PLT Criteria Form.
2. A covering letter addressing selection criteria above in no more than 2 A4 pages. Please also address the financial hardship component in your application.
3. A copy of your CV.
4. Your academic transcript*

*Please note, this scholarship is not judged according to academic performance. The transcript simply informs a discussion regarding the candidates strengths and areas for development.

Applications that do not adhere to the above requirements will not be considered.

Closing date: COB 15 December 2024.

If the suitable candidate is successful prior to this date the ad will close early.

We are building a workplace where difference is embraced and encouraged - and to do this, we need people on our team who are representative of the clients we work with, who are passionate about change and courageous enough to stand up for what is right. Everyone is welcome. Everyone belongs.