We have recently added depth to our practice by welcoming our first volunteers completing practical legal training PLT as part of their Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP). We are confident the PLT placements at PILCH will be valuable to our clients, students and the legal sector.
Our engagement with PLTs reflects the changed environment for practical legal training in Victoria. With the steady decline of the articles of clerkship model, students in Victoria are increasingly completing a GDLP as the final step before admission.
A number of the largest GDLP course providers include PLT placements of up to 80 days, and many of their students actively seek placement at community legal centers (CLCs). This reflects a commitment to social justice, and greater recognition of, and competition for, CLC employment. Our CLC colleagues, including at the PILCH in the NSW office, have voiced the outstanding contribution PLTs make to their practice.
Locally, we undertook a specific review of PLT programs before integrating with NSW, and concluded that we would be well placed to satisfy the necessary supervision requirements and training competencies. We also concluded PLT placements at PILCH would be attractive to students, would support and strengthen pro bono culture, and improve access to justice for our clients.
We have been fortunate to attract strong candidates, with impressive skills, commitment, and diversity of relevant legal and life experiences. Our first cohort of PLTs started in October 2012, and we now have six PLTs in the Victorian office across Referrals, PilchConnect and Clinics. The feedback they have provided has been very encouraging, including that they are gaining valuable exposure to varied legal practice that will be of practical relevance to future legal careers (and employers). Fiona Pitman, a PLT with the Referral Service said:
After four weeks of PLT placement, I've found the experience invaluable. I have a much greater appreciation of the experiences of people who are not able to access the legal system to protect their rights. I'm very keen to get involved in the social justice/community legal sector and my experience at PILCH has given me a fantastic insight into strengths and challenges of this sector.
We encourage prospective PLTs to find out more about placements at PILCH, and to apply for positions through our website at: http://www.pilch.org.au/plt/. PLTs receive a comprehensive induction, and work directly with lawyers and supervisors in their teams. Their principal responsibilities include taking initial inquiries from individuals and not-for-profits, and assisting with referrals casework. PLTs also support our research and advocacy activities.
PILCH has always supported and benefited from the valuable contribution of volunteers, and we are delighted that the PLT program continues that tradition.