Lawyers

Our volunteer solicitors provide legal advice during our Monday night advice sessions. The areas of law include family law, domestic violence, criminal law, child protection and civil law matters. These sessions run from 6:30pm to 8pm. We discuss with you the areas of law you are comfortable with and able to provide advice on and allocate matters to you based on this. Some of our volunteer solicitors also provide legal advice during the day. The days and times that you volunteer can be negotiated depending on your availability.

Volunteer Solicitors must have:

1. An unrestricted practising certificate; and

2. At least one year experience within the past three years in a position where they have provided legal advice.

Please note, if you do not meet the above criteria you will not be able to volunteer as a Solicitor at BCLS. To become a solicitor at BCLS there is an approval process. If you have any questions, please contact the Principal Solicitor.

Mediators

We offer a facilitated co-meditation style of dispute resolution service. We team you up with another mediator to assist our clients to come to a resolution about their issue. We mediate small civil matters, separations involving property, and parenting matters. We have FDRP accredited mediators as well as nationally accredited mediators. We will allocate at least one FDRP to all family law parenting matters.

Students

Our volunteer students assist us with a range of tasks vital to keeping our service running on a day-to-day basis. As a volunteer student you can expect to assist with administrative duties, conducting client intakes, welcoming clients, preparing legal factsheets as well as observing solicitor appointments with clients including note taking. We offer a diverse range of experience no matter where you are in your studies. We have a roster and can negotiate times depending on your availability.