Young Workers Centre offers volunteer placement opportunities to law students from eligible universities. Our volunteer advocates are an integral part of our centre.  

Applications are now closed for Semester 2.

What will you do as an advocate?  

• Interview clients and provide advice under the supervision of the Centre’s solicitors  
• Draft correspondence and court documents 
• Research and prepare briefs for casework and conciliation 
• Prepare wage theft calculations 
• Shadow solicitors in legal proceedings (where possible)  

What do former advocates say about our program?:  

" I really enjoyed getting to see employment law in practice and learning about different court processes. This kind of practical learning has been absent from my studies so far so it has been really valuable to me.” 

“I really enjoyed how the work provided to interns was varied; it helped give interns a broad and well-rounded knowledge of the tasks undertaken by employment lawyers and paralegals, in addition to the different aspects of employment law (e.g. dismissals, underpayments, apprenticeship issues etc).” 

“Realising how prevalent young workers were being taken advantage of by their employers was definitely an eye opener. Conducting research and speaking directly with clients helped solidify my understanding of the area of law.” 

Who are we looking for?  

We are keen to hear from law students with an interest in social justice and/or workers rights. Tell us what you care about and the good you want to do with your law degree.  

Our diversity is our strength. We encourage applications from people with disability and/or chronic illness. We strive to create a welcoming and accessible environment. Please get in touch with Leon ([email protected]) if you would like to discuss any adjustments or concerns, e.g. adjusted working hours, remote supervision, assistive technology. 

We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We strive to be a safe and inclusive practice. 

How do I apply?  

We can only offer placements to students who are obtaining university credit. Placement length varies depending on your university’s requirements.   

We accept direct applications or applications through university placement programs.  

In our form, we will ask you for your contact details, university, and a bit about your interest in YWC.  

2023 placement dates 

We are operating five placement periods throughout 2023:  

Late Summer: January to late February, 2-3 days per week (applications closed) 

Semester 1: Late February to June, 1 day per week (applications closed) 

Winter: late June to late July, 3-4 days per week (applications closed)

Semester 2: Late July to November, 1 day per week (applications closed)

Early Summer: Late November to December, 3-4 days per week 

For any questions about our placement program, please contact Leon Harper, Solicitor, [email protected]