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PILCH member firms and organisations second solicitors to PILCH for periods of three to six months. For a list of past secondee solicitors see Previous Secondee Solicitors.
Description of duties
Secondee solicitors work primarily with the PILCH Manager in dealing with requests for legal assistance and liaising with member law firms and counsel to facilitate the provision of legal services to clients. The work of secondees is varied and challenging and principally involves:
- handling inquiries and 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;
- assessing requests for legal assistance for compliance with eligibility criteria. This may include an exploration and interpretation of the public interest issues;
- 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. Memoranda detail significant facts, observations, the nature of legal assistance sought, relevant case law and legislation, and associated documents;
- liaising with solicitors, counsel, barristers' clerks, the Ethics Committee of the Victorian Bar, courts and tribunals;
- attending introductory conferences between clients, solicitors and counsel;
- work and file management, including monitoring the progress of referred matters;
- writing law reform submissions in relation to public interest issues;
- preparing papers for PILCH Board meetings, addressing Board meetings if necessary, liaising with Board members and law firm representatives;
- participation in the public promotion of PILCH. For instance, a secondee solicitor may, together with the Co-Executive Directors, address community organisations, professional groups, Bar readers and law students about the work of PILCH. In addition, an articled clerk may assist with organising community legal education seminars or write papers, articles or case notes for publication.
Other Activities
Secondee solicitors are also involved in the administration of the Victorian Bar Legal Assistance Scheme which receives applications from the public, community organisations, courts, tribunals and lawyers seeking pro bono assistance from barristers. PILCH administers this Scheme. Secondee solicitors obtain particular experience through this Scheme in dealing with the Victorian Bar Council, barristers and barristers' clerks. The tasks associated with this Scheme are similar to those associated with the PILCH Scheme.
Solicitors on secondment are also brought into contact with the Law Institute of Victoria Legal Assistance Scheme and the Homeless Persons' Legal Clinic, which are also administered by PILCH.
Benefits of a secondment
Secondment to PILCH introduces secondee solicitors to organisations covering the spectrum of the legal profession including the Victorian Bar, the Law Institute of Victoria, the Federation of Community Legal Centres, Victoria Legal Aid and the Victoria Law Foundation. 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. It is also an opportunity to work in a community legal service and gain exposure to a wide range of legal, policy and social issues.
Secondment to PILCH is an ideal opportunity for solicitors with an interest in the area, to develop a practical appreciation of the meaning of 'public interest'. It is also an opportunity to work in a community legal service and gain exposure to a wide range of legal, policy and social issues, in particular in relation to access to justice.
Supervision
All the work of the secondee solicitors is supervised by the Co-Executive Directors. All letters and other documents prepared by the secondee solicitors are reviewed and settled by the Co-Executive Directors. The Co-Executive Directors conduct fortnightly individual case work meetings to ensure the proper progress of all client files on which the secondee solicitors are working.
Training is provided in all relevant office and file management procedures. The secondee solicitors are also offered the opportunity to attend training which is extended to PILCH by its member firms and the Victorian Bar. PILCH regularly arranges for its employees and secondee solicitors to attend conferences in relation to current legal and practice issues. Adequate administrative support is also provided to secondee solicitors.
Responsibilities of the law firm and PILCH for the secondment
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, workcare, 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. PILCH has professional indemnity insurance.
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