Volunteer Roles

Last updated 28/04/2026

Intern (Special Procedures) - UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Geneva Headquarters

Description: The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is seeking an intern for its Special Procedures Sections in Geneva, to support its mission in protecting human rights. Interns will gain valuable experience in international human rights mechanisms and work closely with human rights experts, including Sydney Law School’s Professor Ben Saul, the Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism: (see https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-terrorism).

The intern will work with the Rule of Law, Accountability and Civic Space Branch of Special Procedures, which includes the special rapporteurs, working groups or independent experts on: arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, counter-terrorism, torture, summary executions, independence of judges and lawyers, truth and justice, slavery and trafficking in persons, and equitable international order.

Special Procedures is comprised of independent experts appointed by the member States of the Human Rights Council: https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures-human-rights-council. OHCHR is the Secretariat to the Special Procedures mandate holders.

The intern will assist in various tasks such as investigating, researching and analyzing human rights violations, situations in particular countries and laws and policies, legal and thematic research, drafting complaints to governments, drafting briefing notes and thematic reports, attending meeting with stakeholders including States, civil society and victims and attending sessions of the Human Rights Council and assisting with related events.

The intern will be supervised by OHCHR staff in Geneva.

Criteria:

  • Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate program or be in the final year of an undergraduate program.

  • Fluency in English. Knowledge of an additional UN language is an advantage (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish).

  • Ability to conduct legal research and analysis and draft reports and briefing notes.

  • Ability to interact with individuals from diverse cultures; professionalism; communication; teamwork; client orientation.

  • No professional work experience required

Ideal start date: 1 June 2026

Duration: 6 months - June to December 2026

How to apply: Initially express interest and send CV and University marks transcript to ben.saul@sydney.edu.au

Volunteer Intake Paralegal - HIV/AIDS Legal Centre

Description: The HIV/AIDS Legal Centre (HALC) is currently looking for Volunteer Intake Paralegals to join our team for an immediate start.

Volunteers perform a variety of day-to-day tasks including:

  • Answering phones and delivering messages;

  • New client intakes;

  • General administrative work;

  • Researching legal and administrative laws and procedures; and

  • Ad hoc tasks such as drafting letters of advice and submissions or project work.

We request volunteers to commit to at least 1-2 days a week for a minimum of two months.

Criteria:

  • Sensitivity to people affected by HIV and Hep C;

  • Sensitivity towards clients from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, the LGBTI community, sex workers, people who use drugs and persons with disabilities;

  • Ability to work fairly independently and with quick instructions. Proactively working on files allocated to you. (All work is supervised and monitored by Solicitors);

  • Ability to work under pressure;

  • Basic computer skills; and

  • Ability to work in a small team/open office environment.

Ideal start date: 1 April 2026

Duration: Minimum two month commitment

How to apply: Please send in your brief resume and cover letter addressing the selection criteria indicating the number of days and specific days you will be able to work for, to admin@halc.org.au

Contact for questions: Lyric McDougall (admin@halc.org.au)

Founding Director - StepintoINTLlaw

Description: Launching in 2026, Step into INTL Law aims to help young Australians to step into their dream field by providing career, education opportunities and knowledge resources including:

  • Career podcasts.

  • Short-form educational content regarding international law.

  • Post-graduate education resources.

We are currently hiring directors to lead the following portfolios:

  • Media (Production): Your role is to collaborate with each portfolio to produce short-form media/video/podcast contents.

  • Education (Opportunities): Your role is to connect the organisation with universities and institutions that help students specialise in international law and produce post-graduate related contents and events.

  • Social Media (Outreach): Your role is to run the organisation's social media pages.

  • Event: Your role is to help with our event planning.

  • Operations: Your role is to lead the administration of the organisation. (stakeholder outreach, meeting leads and document organisation)

Criteria:

  • Must be between 18-30 years of age.

  • Must reside in New South Wales, Victoria or the Australian Capital Territory.

  • Must be interested in international law, does not need to be a law student or have a legal background.

  • Must be able to contribute at least 5 hours a week.

  • For social media/media production directors, experience in content production is preferable but not necessary.

  • For general managers, past administrative experience is preferable but not necessary.

  • Relevant Experience is unnecessary! We are looking for dedicated and passionate individuals who are able to help us launch and grow Step Into INTL Law.

How to apply: respond to this form: https://forms.gle/RrFDVYVXid9UqYZB8

Contact for questions: reach out to Lucas at stepintoINTLlaw@outlook.com

Tech Policy Research Program - Protocol Policy Lab

Description: Applications are now open for Protocol Policy Lab’s Policy Research Program (PRP)!

Protocol is a youth-led policy lab dedicated to providing the space for young people to research, engage with and advocate for Australian technology policy. The PRP is a semester-long extracurricular program that brings university students across Australia together into small, interdisciplinary Working Groups to conduct in-depth research on a current issue in Australian technology policy.

You’ll collaborate with students from diverse academic backgrounds to explore your chosen topic and develop a high-quality publication. This may take the form of a policy paper, government submission, think piece, or open letter. Throughout the semester, you’ll receive structured guidance on research and policy writing, alongside mentorship and feedback from Protocol’s Editorial Board.

At the conclusion of the program, Protocol will publish your work, and you’ll have the opportunity to present your research at the Protocol Symposium and explore pathways for future advocacy.

Criteria: Students from all academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply. While Protocol is a youth-led initiative, we would love to hear from undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as recent graduates, who have a passion for tech policy.

Ideal start date: 3 March 2026

Duration: Semester 1 (6 months)

How to apply: Apply through submitting an application form at the following link: https://www.protocolpolicylab.org/apply

Contact for questions: contact@protocolpolicylab.org

Application deadline: 3 March 2026

Additional details: The Policy Research Program folder in the following link contains a poster and invitation with further details to be provided to students: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1R-lSRL159NG8eg66gouFTvC6BTtpxYD7?usp=sharing

Practical Legal Training (PLT) Placement — Lopes Legal

Description:

  • Lopes Legal is a Sydney-based law firm specialising primarily in personal injury and compensation law, including workers compensation, motor vehicle accident claims, income protection, and TPD matters, with a secondary practice in family law.

  • We are a growing boutique firm known for our client-focused approach, clear communication, and strong advocacy for injured and vulnerable clients, particularly within multicultural communities. We value professionalism, empathy, and attention to detail, and we provide hands-on supervision and mentoring to junior lawyers and PLT students.

  • Practice Areas

    • Personal Injury / Compensation Law

    • Workers Compensation

    • Motor Vehicle Accident Claims

    • Insurance Law

    • Family Law (exposure)

  • The PLT student will work under the direct supervision of the Principal Solicitor and will gain exposure to real legal work, including:

    • Legal research and drafting correspondence

    • Assisting with affidavits, statements, and court documents

    • Reviewing medical and expert reports

    • File management and matter preparation

    • Observing client conferences and negotiations

    • Exposure to court and dispute resolution processes (where applicable)

  • This placement is suitable for a motivated graduate seeking practical, hands-on experience rather than purely administrative tasks.

Criteria:

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills

  • High attention to detail

  • Professional and reliable

  • Willingness to learn and take initiative

  • Interest in personal injury and/or family law

  • Portuguese or other second language highly regarded but not essential

  • Eligibility: Applicants must:

    • Be eligible to undertake supervised workplace training

    • Have Australian work rights

Duration: 6 months

How to Apply? Applicants should submit: Resume Short cover letter outlining interest in the placement Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Contact: alex@lopeslegal.com.au

Application Deadline: 1/14/2026

Founding Committee Member - Protocol

Protocol is a new youth-led tech policy lab, dedicated to exploring and influencing Australian policy in key areas such as AI Safety and Energy Use, Quantum Innovation, and Digital Privacy.

Launching in 2026, we’re currently looking for passionate university students from all around Australia to join our Founding Committee. You’ll help define our vision, guide research priorities, and create opportunities for young Australians to engage with national technology policy.

Criteria: Open to students from all degrees, from first to final year, and anyone passionate about tech policy! We would especially love people with a policy background (such as Law, Political Science and International Relations) or a technical background (such as Computer Science and Engineering) but all degrees are welcome! No prior experience is required and all organisation will in December.

Ideal start date: 1 December 2025

Apply: Apply to join us at www.protocolpolicylab.org

Enquiries: Reach out to Emma Cooney at emma@protocolpolicylab.org for further information.

Paralegal Volunteer and PLT Placement (Unpaid) - The Australian Centre for Disability Law

The Australian Centre for Disability Law is currently seeking paralegal and PLT placement volunteers to join our legal team. The Australian Centre for Disability Law (‘ACDL’) is a specialist state-wide community legal centre that assists people with disability and their associates with disability discrimination matters as well as a range of other civil law matters. Our mission is to promote and protect the human and legal rights of people with disability and their associates through strategic legal advocacy and advice. We are seeking students in their second year or above and students seeking to complete their Practical Legal Training component as volunteers at our Surry Hills office.

As a volunteer, you will be involved in:

  • Answering the phone and taking instructions from new clients;

  • Providing referrals for people with disability and their associates;

  • Assisting with advices and associated administration, including database entry;

  • Casework support, which can include:

    • drafting and filing disability discrimination complaints;

    • legal research;

    • file management;

    • general assistance, preparation and observation of conciliations, mediations and/or hearings.

  • Research and involvement in law reform submissions and community legal education.

Criteria:

  • An interest, or experience, in social justice and human rights issues and/or experience in other community legal centres will be highly regarded.

  • At least 2 days per week for a minimum of 6 months.

  • This is a face to face role.

  • Second year or above LLB

Ideal start date: 1 December 2025

Duration: 6 months

Application deadline: 12 December 2025

How to apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter via email to recruitment@disabilitylaw.org.au. Applications close 12 December 2025 People with disability and their associates, people from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait background or a culturally and linguistically diverse background are encouraged to apply. Note: All positions are unpaid.

Enquiries: 1800 800 708 or recruitment@disabilitylaw.org.au