Profile: Our interns Rebecca, Kaitlyn and Henry

The Centre could not survive without the assistance of its interns and volunteers, sourcing many from the University of NSW’s Social Justice Internship Program and others from across New South Wales. We are pleased to report that many interns sourced through the Program choose to stay with the Centre after their formal internship is completed.

In this issue we welcome our two new Social Justice Interns, Kaitlyn Maia and Rebecca Wong, and our new volunteer, Henry Cornwell:

Kaitlyn has joined the Centre through the UNSW School of Law Social Justice Internship Program. She is in his final year of a Bachelor of Laws and Commerce at the University of NSW, with both volunteer and corporate experience. Kaitlyn has personally seen how valuable pro bono work can be, having volunteered at the Shopfront Youth Legal Centre since December 2015, where she saw firsthand how the law can operate unjustly for vulnerable young people.

Kaitlyn hopes her time volunteering at the Centre will enable her to further develop her research skills and to gain a greater awareness of the legal assistance sector which will assist her in her new Paralegal position at the Crown Solicitor’s Office.

Rebecca is in her penultimate year of a Bachelor of Commerce and Laws. She was Director of the Community and Public Sector Interest Portfolio of the Law Society last year, and developed her interest in Pro Bono during her role there in which she often had to liaise with Community Legal Centres. Through that experience, she realised how important it was that lawyers and law firms integrate a culture of Pro Bono in the workplace, as CLCs and other government organisations face many struggles such as funding and strict criteria for help. She has come to volunteer at the Australian Pro Bono Centre to find out more about how to build relationships between law firms and the wider community to help social justice.

Rebecca has always been more than willing to volunteer. A few organisations she has volunteered with include Vision Australia and the Mitrata Foundation. She also participates in charity rides to raise money for various causes. Rebecca is looking forward to using her skills learnt here to contribute as a Pro Bono lawyer in her workplace in the near future.

Henry has recently finished an Arts/Law degree at UNSW, and will graduate this year. He comes to the Centre after a year as Tipstaff to the Hon Justice Ruth McColl AO at the New South Wales Court of Appeal, and will commence as a graduate at Gilbert + Tobin later this year. Amongst other co-curricular activities at UNSW, Henry volunteered for the Aboriginal Legal Service, represented UNSW at the ICC mooting competition, and completed an internship at the Social Impact Hub.

Henry is passionate about social justice and believes in the duty of all lawyers to uphold and contribute to a legal system that is just for all. He has a particular interest in human rights and addressing our system’s harmful impact upon Indigenous Australians. Whilst at the Centre, Henry is eager to develop a deep understanding of pro bono best practice that will guide him throughout his career.