News

Giving up your time for free is not everyone's idea of university life but for many law and justice students at QUT, it is an essential part of their learning.

QUT's Faculty of Law has been helping students get a jump start in the legal profession by offering information workshops to those keen to kick-start their legal clinic experience.

Judith McNamara, Assistant Dean (Learning and Teaching) with the Faculty of Law, said QUT was supporting students interested in undertaking legal pro bono work.

"Volunteering in this way is instilling professional values of community service and justice which are essential values within the legal profession," Ms McNamara said.

"QUT is committed to assisting students who are passionate about justice to serve their community."

Through an information workshop, QUT has been giving students important hints and tips in how to find volunteer positions as well as explaining the finer points of working in the community sector.

Final year law student Luke Cudmore has been volunteering his time at a community-based legal service for the past 14 months, and believes pro bono work is an essential part of being a lawyer.

"I think all lawyers should do pro bono work at some point in their careers. There is a significant group of people who fall through the gap, who are ineligible for legal aid but don't have the ability to pay for legal representation," Luke said.

"As a result of volunteering, I have an appreciation of how many people fall through that gap."

Luke said his decision to volunteer was prompted by his desire to apply the knowledge he was gaining at QUT in a real world environment.

"By doing pro bono volunteering as a law student, you have the ability to take theory and apply that in the community and that is an extremely valuable tool," he said.

"Before I started volunteering I was lacking confidence but now I can honestly say I can apply the skills and knowledge I have learnt throughout my degree in a competent and professional manner."

Related stories
Training soldiers to disobey "illegal" orders
Humphrey starts as QUT's new Executive Dean of Law
Australia's law schools discuss 'safer' legal education

Media contacts
- Sandra Hutchinson, QUT media officer (Tue/Wed), 07 3138 9449 or media@qut.edu.au
- Rose Trapnell, QUT media team leader, 07 3138 2361

** A high resolution photo of Luke Cudmore is available for media use