Secondments
What secondments does PILCH offer?
During my 6 months with PILCH I worked on a fascinatingly diverse range of policy and client matters. It was extremely rewarding to play a part in securing pro bono legal assistance for clients and to be a part of PILCH's creative and dynamic team of staff and volunteers. A secondment to PILCH gives you new perspectives, increased confidence in dealing with clients and first-hand exposure to PILCH's invaluable work in the community.
- Anna Lyons, Freehills
PILCH member firms and organisations second solicitors to PILCH for periods of three to twelve months.
Secondments to PILCH provide a unique opportunity to understand the access to justice and human rights sector and engage in diverse and rewarding work, including casework, law reform & advocacy, policy and projects. Secondee solicitors will have contact with a wide range of PILCH stakeholders including the Victorian Bar, the Law Institute of Victoria, the Federation of Community Legal Centres, Victoria Legal Aid and the Victoria Law Foundation, as well as governments and domestic and international NGOs.
Part of working at PILCH requires examining various options available for clients seeking legal assistance and thus developing an overview of the justice system. Secondment to PILCH also provides an opportunity for secondee solicitors to develop practical appreciation of professional responsibility, particularly in the context of access to justice.
While at PILCH, the law firm (or organisation) continues to pay the secondee solicitor's salary and bear all costs associated with their superannuation, payroll tax, Workcover, annual leave, sick leave and any other entitlements during their secondment. The law firm (or organisation) will not be responsible for work performed by the solicitor during the secondment.
Description of duties
The work of secondees is varied and challenging and principally involves:
- Handling requests for legal assistance in all areas of law from members of the public, community organisations, courts, tribunals, legal practitioners (who apply on behalf of their clients) and community legal centres
- Interviewing clients, including taking instructions, identifying the relevant factual and legal information which is required to advise the client, and collecting and collating information from clients and third parties
- Conceptualising the factual and legal issues raised by clients, and assessing the legal merit of such matters and their prospects for legal resolution
- Developing strategies for the progress of client matters to ensure compliance with dates set by courts and tribunals and any limitations periods
- Drafting of memoranda for referral of client matters to law firms and counsel
- Work and file management, including monitoring the progress of referred matters
- Writing law reform submissions in relation to public interest issues
- Participation in the public promotion of PILCH
- Engaging in project work
Recent Activities
Recent activities of secondees have included:
- Drafting a submission to the Federal government Inquiry regarding the proposed amendments to the Sexual Discrimination Act
- Instructing in a VCAT eviction matter where significant Charter of Rights issues were raised
- Appearing before a Senate Inquiry into Counter Terrorism measures
- Assisting with the establishment of an Environmental Law Project
Administrative Secondments
PILCH is also able to offer the opportunity to administrative staff from PILCH member firms to participate in PILCH's administration secondment program. PILCH has been greatly assisted by the work of administration secondees who are typically seconded to the office on a one day per week basis for a period of six to eight weeks.
Administrative secondees work primarily with the Managers of the Public Interest Scheme and Homeless Persons Legal Clinic and the Office Coordinator in assisting with various administrative tasks.