Case study example 1: Volunteer recruitment drive
PROBLEM - SOLUTION - RESULT/OUTCOME
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Regional CLC was forced to turn away at least 5 people every week from their evening drop-in advice sessions. Volunteer solicitors provided advice at the evening advice clinics, but the current roster was at capacity. Despite doing their best to triage the most urgent cases, it was still distressing to staff and volunteers to tell people that they couldn’t be seen due to limited resources.
To address their demand for services, Regional CLC ran a targeted volunteer recruitment drive for early career lawyers through the local District Law Association. By providing comprehensive induction, training and support of new volunteers, Regional CLC was able to boost their evening advice volunteer solicitor numbers by 10%. While Regional CLC still cannot meet all the demand, the increase in volunteers on the evening roster has meant that number of people turned away has decreased by 20%. The early career lawyers responded to a recent survey about their volunteering experience and over 80% agreed that their CLC volunteering improved their client interview skills and provided them with a better understanding of the broader social problems leading to people’s legal issues. One early career volunteer lawyer commented: |
I always look forward to my rostered night at Regional CLC. In my paid firm work, I don’t get to interview many clients and the volunteering helps me build those skills. I feel like I am making a difference.
Case study example 2: Volunteer paralegals
PROBLEM - SOLUTION - RESULT/OUTCOME
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Domestic Violence CLC was funded to provide duty lawyer services at the Downtown Magistrates Court on the call over list day for domestic violence applications. It is always busy on call over day at the Court and one CLC solicitor has to rush through the list of women, resulting in a back log of administration tasks and sometimes not being able to make referrals to other community services.
Through the local university law school, Domestic Violence CLC advertised for law students interested in doing volunteer paralegal work on the duty lawyer court day. Domestic Violence CLC was overwhelmed with student interest and were able to select, induct and train appropriate student paralegal volunteers. Every week at court, there is now a rostered paralegal volunteer. |
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This has enabled the administrative tasks to be undertaken in a timely manner, and there has been an increase in referrals of women to other relevant community support services. The volunteer paralegals are keen to remain on the roster, as they see volunteering as being directly relevant to their future legal careers, providing them with invaluable work experience. One of the volunteers stated:
I really like helping out at the Magistrates Court as a court paralegal. The Domestic Violence solicitors are so busy, so it's great knowing that my volunteering means that more women receive advice and representation.