What to expect from a PLT placement at PILCH

Legal Practice Areas & Policy Work

PLT students will work within one of our three service delivery programs, with an opportunity to rotate, depending on our work needs. We are committed to providing you with a diversity of legal practice during your placement.

1. Referral Service

Referral casework is a central part of PILCH's practice, and provides PLT students with an opportunity to develop practical and procedural legal experience and skills across diverse practice areas. PILCH makes referrals to barristers and lawyers on behalf of individuals and organisations that cannot obtain or afford legal assistance elsewhere, and where access to justice considerations apply, for example, marginalisation, discrimination, or the public interest.

Referral casework exposes PLT students to:

  • taking instructions and communicating with clients;
  • legal research, analysis and problem solving;
  • providing (limited) supervised legal information and advice;
  • file management (maintaining accurate client files and databases):
  • facilitating referrals to barristers and law firms, including drafting correspondences and referral memoranda;
  • communicating with legal service providers (including courts, government agencies, community organisations and community legal centres) in order to complete referrals or advocate for clients' interests;
  • participating in conferences and team meetings;

Referral casework does not typically involve the provision ongoing legal casework. Referral Service advocacy is focussed on access to justice.


2. PilchConnect

PilchConnect is a specialist legal service set up by PILCH to provide free and low-cost legal assistance to not-for-profit community organisations and to advocate on their behalf.

PilchConnect aims to 'help the helpers' through the provision of legal information, advice and training.  Its advocacy is focussed on improving the legal framework and reducing red tape for the not-for-profit sector.

PLT students within PilchConnect will have the opportunity to participate in: 

  • the intake of new PilchConnect enquires, including initial client interview and assessment;
  • legal research and drafting for PilchConnect’s Advice Service; and
  • assistance in the preparation of legal information materials for the PilchConnect webportal. 

PLT students may also have the opportunity to attend and participate in PilchConnect’s seminar series and training for not-for-profit organisations, and to assist PilchConnect lawyers with law reform and policy work.

 Further information about PilchConnect is available here.


3. PILCH Clinics

PILCH operates two clinics, the Homeless Persons Legal Clinic (HPLC) and Seniors Rights Legal Clinic (SRLC),

The HPLC is a specialist legal service that provides free legal assistance and advocacy to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness within a human rights framework. The SRLC is a specialist legal service designed to respond to and prevent elder abuse and to assist clients with other issues associated with ageing.

 Legal assistance is provided by pro bono lawyers at homelessness assistance services and health services to facilitate direct access by clients and to provide a service that works closely and collaboratively with other allied service providers.

The Clinics also undertakes significant law reform, advocacy and community development activities to promote and protect the fundamental human rights of older people and people experiencing homelessness.  

Clinic services include:

  • referral work (as described above);
  • support of the legal clinics and pro bono lawyers; and
  • the provision of direct client legal services.

Policy & Law Reform

PILCH undertakes law reform, advocacy, policy and legal education to:

  • address disadvantage and marginalisation in the community,
  • effect structural change to address injustice;
  • foster a strong pro bono culture in Victoria; and
  • to increase the pro bono capacity of the legal profession.

PLT students will typically have an opportunity to assist with campaigns, law reform and legal education. The scope for this work will depend on factors such as our current policy agenda and workflow considerations. 

What you can expect from PILCH


1. Supervised legal practice

PLT students will work at the PILCH office, under the supervision and direction of a manager and supervising principal lawyer. You will be exposed to and participate in a dynamic CLC legal practice.

You will work with a professional team and develop practical legal skills in one or more of our legal practices. PLT students will be represented as a member of PILCH staff in all correspondence and external communications

You will have opportunities to participate in external and in-house training and seminars and excellent opportunities to engage with other legal service providers.


2. The workplace

Staff at PILCH are energetic, professional, focussed and enthusiastic. PILCH has a positive workplace culture, subject to Policies and Procedures that are available on request and on induction.

Students will be covered by PILCH for professional indemnity insurance, public liability insurance and voluntary workers insurance.  PILCH will provide students with a safe and healthy system of work during the placement.

PLT placements are not paid positions and students accrue no salary or other employment related entitlements or benefits. Any absences from you placement is subject to negotiation with your manager/supervising lawyer.


3. Induction

Before or at the start of your Placement, you will:

  • receive an induction into PILCH's structure, policies  and procedures;
  • meet with your manager and supervising lawyer who will talk you through this document and answer any questions you might have;   
  • receive training on the use of the PILCH database and the share drive;
  • review some sample case files; and
  • observe the inquiry intake process. 


4. End of placement and feedback

You will be asked to complete the following documents prior to completing your placement:

  • Workload handover memo
  • PLT exit checklist
  • PLT exit interview form

Your manager/supervising lawyer will schedule an exit interview in your final week in order to ensure handover of your work, and so that you and PILCH can provide constructive feedback about your placement. Please ensure that you complete these forms ahead of the exit interview and that you plan your last week's activities to allow for a smooth handover.

PILCH will complete all necessary PLT Feedback Reports, which will be sent directly to your PLT provider. It is a matter of individual PLT provider protocol whether they choose to share this with you. PILH will also provide a Statement of Duties Completed.

What we expect of you


1. Accountable team player

PILCH recognises the importance of professional development, supervision and training for PLT students. We similarly expect professionalism and initiative in our PLT students.

We expect that you:

  • participate in regular meetings with your team manager and supervisor;
  • initiate a meeting with your manager or supervising lawyer if you wish to discuss a confidential issue;
  • regularly update your manager and supervising lawyer about your workload and the progress of your casework, giving realistic timeframes;
  • share feedback and ask for assistance or guidance when you need it;
  • maintain accurate files and database entries;
  • speak to clients with sensitivity and tolerance and report any concerns or problematic clients to your supervising lawyer or manager;
  • be proactive about seeking work and looking for ways to add value to our casework, for example by drafting case studies, contributing to PILCH publications, monitoring the media and considering how your casework interacts with PILCH’s campaign objectives; and
  • adhere to PILCH’s policies and procedures, contributing to a safe a respectful work environment for staff and clients.