There are three different kinds of volunteer work available with Arts Law.
Volunteer lawyer on our Legal Advice Night Panel
Volunteer note-taker at Legal Advice Nights
Daytime volunteer admin/research assistant.
Volunteer Lawyers
Arts Law aims to maintain panels of volunteer lawyers in all state capitals, who provide legal advice to our subscribers either face to face or via telephone. We call this service the Legal Advice Night (LAN) Service.
Our subscribers are representative of the Australian arts community and include everyone from visual artists and documentary film makers to musicians, multi-media artists and authors and the legal advice they require is similarly wide ranging. Often an advice session will involve the review of a contract, but sometimes our subscribers need general advice on matters such as film finance, litigation options, employment issues, business structures and intellectual property.
If we require you for an advice session, we will contact you a few days beforehand to check your availability, and to ensure there is no legal conflict. If you are able to assist, we will send you any documents relevant to the matter. The advice given during the session is covered by Arts Law's insurance. The only follow up required is the provision to Arts Law of a file note of your legal advice.
How to be a LAN volunteer lawyer?
If you are interested in assisting us as a volunteer lawyer, please email Arts Law your resume and covering letter. We generally require that you have two or more years experience in the field in which you are advising.
Referrals and Pro Bono Assistance
We are also interested in law firms that can offer assistance through accepting referrals, including occasional pro bono referrals, and in lawyers that would be prepared to participate in our mediation service or help us by writing and reviewing publications.
Volunteer Note-takers
As part of our face-to-face advice service we also have note-takers who sit in on the advice sessions and assist our volunteer lawyers by keeping detailed file notes of the advice given.
Generally our note-takers are 3rd or 4th year law students, recent graduates or junior lawyers. Please note that you are required to have completed IP or Media Law in Australia to be considered for a position as note-taker.
If you are interested in a volunteer position, please fill out the application form, attach your CV and your current academic record and send to Arts Law at artslaw@artslaw.com.au. Please clearly label your attachments.
Daytime Volunteers
Daytime volunteers generally commit to one day per week at Arts Law's Sydney office for a minimum period of 6 months. Volunteers provide valuable assistance in various ways, including legal research and administration tasks.
Daytime volunteers are usually 3rd or 4th year students and recent graduates. IP experience is preferable but not essential.
If you are interested in a volunteer position, please fill out the application form, attach your CV and your current academic record and send to Arts Law at artslaw@artslaw.com.au. Please clearly label your attachments.
Thank you for your interest in and support for the work done by Arts Law.