LawRight
Independent not-for-profit legal organisation that coordinates the provision of pro bono legal service for individuals and community groups in Queensland.
LawRight is an independent not-for-profit legal organisation that coordinates the provision of pro bono legal service for individuals and community groups in Queensland. LawRight operates a civil law referral service and direct legal services for particularly disadvantaged client groups, and undertakes law reform, policy work and legal education.
For UQ Students
Community & Health Justice Partnerships student clinic - a clinical legal education subject that involves student placements with LawRight and private law firms, focussing on client casework and research (2 semesters per year). In each university semester, 6 law students participate in the subject, which comprises two major activities:
- Working with volunteer lawyers from private law firms to assist in the provision of legal assistance to people experiencing homelessness or related forms of disadvantage and marginalisation. Over 6 weeks, students are placed with a firm, attend one of the Legal Clinics and participate in casework and other tasks to assist clients to resolve their legal issues; and
- Contributing to the HPLC's legal research and advocacy work. Students spend 6 weeks in the LawRight office under the supervision of HPLC staff and are involved in research and law reform projects.
To participate, see University of Queensland TC Beirne School of Law's website.
Health Advocacy Legal Clinic at Mater - the legal clinic at the Mater Young Adult Health Centre is a partnership involving the Mater Hospital, UQ Law, Social Work and Medical schools. Students help to provide advice and assistance to patients in a variety of areas, including guardianship law, advanced care planning, enduring powers of attorney and care issues for people with a disability.
Volunteering: LawRight also invites students to volunteer each semester. Volunteers are usually final year or penultimate year of their degree and contribute for 1 day per week. Applications are usually called as needed or before each semester commences. To find more information about recruitment, students can follow LawRight on social media or email admin@lawright.org.au with their CV, interest and availability.
Contact
Testimonials
Kate Adnams
Senior Lawyer, Community & Health Justice Partnerships - LawRight - 2025
My career in the community legal sector started when I began volunteering and then later, working at Caxton Legal Centre and LawRight whilst completing my law degree. Before starting to work in the community legal sector I had been very apprehensive about my career in the law; I did not have any real idea about what being a lawyer was and what I did know of as career options, didn't seem right for me. Working in the community legal sector exposed me to a part of the profession that is entirely dedicated to ensuring that people in our community are advocated for and afforded basic dignity and human rights which better aligned with the career that I wanted.
After being admitted in 2019, I began working in LawRight's Homelessness Law service where I gave advice to children, young people and women who were experiencing homelessness. Early in my career, I was able to work directly with clients and collaborate closely with senior lawyers and barristers on my files, in a way allowed me to learn and gain confidence about a variety of aspects of legal practice. I continue to work in LawRight's Homelessness Law service, where I am now a Senior Lawyer and supervise our Stable Futures for Young Queenslanders program, which provides civil law assistance to children and young people.
My career in the community legal sector has allowed me to be involved in so many incredible projects and work with inspiring people, including other lawyers, social workers, psychologist, doctors and of course, my clients. Working in a community legal centre has so much variety. In addition to providing legal assistance services to our clients, I have spoken at multiple conferences, provided evidence as a parliamentary witness, given feedback to governments on draft legislation, been involved in research projects, completed my Master of Laws and started a partnership with a women's homelessness service to provide the residents legal services to aid in their recovery from homelessness and violence. I am not sure that I would have had the opportunity to see such breadth of the legal profession in any other sector.
A career in a community legal service is incredibly rewarding, not just for the significant impact you can have on individuals' lives, but also because of the professional and personal opportunities provided as a result of the collaborative and supportive nature of our sector. I highly encourage all students to consider volunteering or completing a student clinic in the community legal sector, not only because it is good advocate for those in the community who need it, but also because it is good for you and your professional development too.
Caitlin Holmes
Former Paralegal - LawRight - 2023
In 2021, I was a clinic student at LawRight's Mater Health Justice Partnership. The clinic quickly became one of the highlights of my university degree and was instrumental in developing my interest in working for a community legal centre (CLC). The clinic helped me view clients' legal problems in a more nuanced way and consider how complex health and social issues affect their experience and ability to access justice. This experience made me excited to see that there was a path for me beyond corporate law.
When a position opened up at LawRight in February 2022, I jumped at the opportunity. I now work as a full-time paralegal while completing my law degree. In this role, I have been able to work across a variety of practice areas and gain experience in litigation, while supporting clients to navigate complex court proceedings. I have learnt so much working with passionate lawyers and volunteers about the law and working with vulnerable people. Being able to see the positive impact that our work has on clients is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. I also value being able to develop my skills for legal practice in a CLC which aligns with my values.
I would recommend that students become involved in pro bono projects and volunteering while at university. In addition to helping increase access to justice, these experiences enable you to connect with your peers and the profession. They can also expose you to areas of law that are unfamiliar to you, and help you discover what interests you. Volunteering at a CLC offers a great way to develop your legal and interpersonal skills, outside of and beyond what you can learn at university.
Rachel Tomassen
Research Assistant - LawRight - 2019
When I applied for a research position with LawRight's Homeless Persons' Legal Clinic, I was only looking for some work experience. After six months, however, I'd learned a lot more. You don't have to be particularly interested in homelessness issues to find the pro bono work at LawRight interesting: it's the heart and soul of the community legal sector in Brisbane. The people there are incredibly committed and they're always working to solve one of the many inequalities and injustices of our legal system.
Every week I would come in to the West End office for one day. My supervisors were very understanding about my university schedule. For about half the semester I had a class at 4 and had to leave early and if I had exams or needed to work on assignments, they'd allow me the week off.
I mostly did policy work at a desk when I was there, researching particular issues and preparing briefings to assist the lawyers with everything from meetings with SPER to their approach to technological outreach. I always felt like I was doing something useful, or learning something new. All along, I seemed to be making a valuable contribution. At the same time, I met interesting people and learnt how the pro bono system really works, which gave me both perspective and experience in the legal system. Even if you aren't sure which particular social justice area you are most interested in, experience in the pro bono sector is invaluable. In particular, I'd recommend applying for LawRight - after my short time as a research assistant I felt much more well informed, connected and capable of solving problems in the legal world.
Amanda Lamb
Volunteer - LawRight - 2019
I became involved volunteering at LawRight in the Homeless Persons' Legal Clinic, through the Pro Bono Centre. As I had heard positive feedback from previous students who had volunteered there, as well as other students that completed their Clinical Legal Education Program there too, I was eager to gain some work experience. The position was a research support role, where I was mentored by the coordinator and managing lawyer. My work primarily consisted of large research tasks, which would take several weeks to complete. They varied in their content, which kept things fresh, and were all in support of the clinics' policy work. This type of research was different to other types I had experienced, so I felt it took me a little while to become accustomed to it. However, my mentor was very helpful and aided me in this process.
At first, the prospect of volunteering one day per week for 6 months, whilst studying full time and working part time and just balancing life in general, did seem daunting. However, I am so glad I did. The team at HPLC was very flexible and accommodating of my university and work timetable. I was able to take time off during exams, to which I then made-up later, or sometimes work differing days per week depending on my schedule. I was also able to start a month later than was advertised, in order to complete another work experience program.
I found this work not only rewarding, but it also opened my eyes to various social and legal issues that I had not encountered during my degree. My advice would be to step out of your comfort zone early in your degree and volunteer. Not only may you find a passion for an area of law, but you may also make some friends and contacts along the way!