Volunteering

There are three different kinds of volunteer work available with Arts Law.

1. Volunteer lawyer on our Legal Advice Night Panel

2. Volunteer note-taker at Legal Advice Nights

3. Daytime volunteer admin/research assistant.

Volunteer Lawyers

Arts Law aims to maintain panels of volunteer lawyers in all state capitals (except in Queensland), who provide face-to face legal advice to our subscribers. 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.

LANs are generally on Monday evenings and are held weekly in Sydney and either fortnightly or monthly in other states.

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 sessions are held at a central venue, and 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

Currently all our requirements for volunteer note-takers are being met.

As part of our face-to-face advice service in Sydney and Melbourne 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 law students, recent graduates or junior lawyers.

However, if you are interested in a volunteer position and you would like us to keep you application on file, please fill out the application form, attach your CV and your current academic record and send to Arts Law at artslaw@artslaw.com.au.  

Daytime Volunteers

We currently have no positions available for daytime volunteers. 

Volunteers may be required to assist in various ways, including legal research and administration tasks.

Daytime volunteers are usually students and recent graduates,

However, if you are interested in a volunteer position and you would like us to keep your application on file, please fill out the application form, attach your CV and your current academic record and send to Arts Law at artslaw@artslaw.com.au. 

 Thank you for your interest in and support for the work done by Arts Law.