Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service Inc.
Last Updated in 2016
Field of Law
Community Legal Centres; Disability
Stage of Law
Secondary; Undergraduates; Graduates; Practicing Lawyers
Address: Building ib, Level 4, Deakin University Geelong
Waurn Ponds Campus, 75 Pigdons Rd., Waurn Ponds, VIC., 3216
Phone: (03) 5227 3338; Free advice line: 1800 014 111
Fax: (03) 5229 3354
Visit the Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service website
Contact person: Deidre Griffiths and Sue Wolter
Email: deidre.griffiths@villamanta.org.au or sue.wolter@villamanta.org.au
Description of Organisation
Villamanta is a Victorian state-wide specialist Community Legal Centre that works only on disability related legal issues for people who have a disability. Their main purpose is to make sure that people in Victoria who have a disability can know about the law, and use the law, to gain fundamental rights. Most of Villamanta's casework is done for people who have an intellectual disability.
Number of legal positions within organisation: 4 (all but one part-time)
Information for secondary schools
Do you have work experience placements for secondary school students?
By arrangement
Contact person for work experience placements: Deidre Griffiths/Sue Wolter
Do you host school trips or send speakers to schools?
By arrangement
Contact person for school trip and/or speakers: Deidre Griffiths/Sue Wolter
Information for university students/graduates
What sort of volunteer/work experience opportunities are available?
- Lawyers who provide advice to clients
- Paralegals who conduct the intake of clients and assist lawyers
- Law students who carry out research and support the casework undertaken by Villamanta
- Volunteers who provide assistance with general office/admin. work
What are you looking for in a volunteer?
Volunteers with Human Rights perspective
Qualifications/skills required
Any
What electives/areas of study are viewed favourably?
Law
What prior work/volunteer work is viewed favourably?
Any
Do you have a graduate clerkship program? (involving practical legal training and admission to practise)
No
How does one apply
Write to Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service Inc.
Dates for application
Any time
Do you require your applicants to be recent law graduates? If so, how recent?
No
Interview process
Written applications possibly followed by invitation to attend interview with one or two staff.
Do you have a minimum Grade Point Average standard for an applicant's academic record?
No
If there are any fails on a candidate's academic record how will they affect the recruitment process?
No
Contact person for volunteers: Sue Wolter
Information for practising lawyers
What are you looking for in a permanent employee?
Good lawyers/workers with Human Rights outlook. Interest in assisting people who have a disability with their legal problems.
What prior work is viewed favourably?
Any
On average, how many positions become available per year?
Rarely any for permanent employees/several for volunteers
How many applications do you receive for these?
Varies; approx. 10 per year for volunteer positions
Where do you advertise your positions?
University volunteer websites; Geelong Volunteers website
Do you use a recruitment agency?
No
Advice for applicants
Please call us for information about how to apply.
Additional comments
People who have a disability are welcome to apply