Volunteers
Peninsula Community Legal Centre utilises the skills and work of volunteers to extend and enhance its operations and service delivery.
PCLC volunteers enable the Centre to offer up to 9 additional free legal advice sessions each week, including after hours advice in six locations – Bentleigh, Cranbourne, Frankston, Hastings, Pines and Rosebud. Not only do volunteers strengthen the capacity of the Centre to provide fast, accessible advice to clients, volunteers are also involved in governing the organisation (through the Management Committee), providing administrative support and assisting with special projects.
The Centre currently has 120 active volunteers, some of whom have been volunteering for more than 20 years!
At our volunteer advice sessions, qualified lawyer volunteers provide clients with free legal advice. Paralegal (non-lawyer) volunteers co-ordinate the session, conduct a preliminary client interview and provide assistance to lawyer volunteers, such as resource and referral information and administrative support. Paralegal volunteers may also sit in on interviews to gain an understanding of legal issues and the advice required.
All volunteers are required to provide personal information and sign a Privacy and Confidentiality Undertaking. Volunteers that do not hold a current practising certificate are required to supply the Centre with a signed Consent to Check and Release Police Record, the cost of which is borne by the Centre.
It is compulsory for all paralegal (non-lawyer) volunteers to undertake training before commencing. Training sessions are usually held twice each year, and run for a full day. An induction for volunteer lawyers is offered prior to commencing.
For more information, or to register your interest in volunteering, please contact the Manager, Volunteer & Education Programs, at our Head Office.