By volunteering with EDO you will be joining our incredible team of dedicated staff and volunteers who are working across the country to create our vision, which is a world where nature thrives.
Volunteers work across our teams in a range of positions, however all of our volunteer roles allow you to:
- Be part of the largest public interest environmental legal centre in the Australia-Pacific, dedicated to protecting our climate, communities and shared environment through groundbreaking litigation and law reform advocacy.
- Learn new skills or add to the ones you already have.
- Be part of a diverse and inclusive workplace.
- Meet like-minded people who are passionate about protecting the environment.
- Make a valuable contribute to the work of EDO.
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Please note that all EDO volunteering opportunities listed here are unpaid and voluntary in nature.
If there are no current positions listed that are of interest, but you would like to be considered for future volunteering opportunities, please complete our Expression of Interest Form.
—–
Types of volunteering opportunities at EDO*
Practical Legal Training (PLT) Placement Volunteer
PLT placements are an opportunity for those wishing to gain admission to practice.
If you hold a law degree, and have completed; or are close to completing, professional legal education to gain admission to practice, then a PLT placement might be a suitable opportunity for you.
All of EDO’s PLT Placement Volunteers are supervised by a Senior EDO Solicitor and undertake a wide variety of tasks to allow their confidence to grow in a legal setting.
Legal student or Graduate Volunteer
An ideal opportunity for legal students or newly graduated individuals who have a demonstrated interest in environmental law, and passion for protection of the environment through legal mechanisms.
In this position you will volunteer under the supervision of one of our experienced Solicitors.
To be considered for this volunteer position you need to have, or be in the process of completing, a law degree and depending on the team you are hoping to volunteer with, ideally have:
- completed at least one of Environmental Law, Local Government and Planning Law or Administrative Law in Australia;
- a background in Corporations Law or commercial Law;
- skills or experience in indigenous rights or in Pacific legal systems; or
- a background in Criminal Law.
Unfortunately, while this position is open to law students or recent graduates, any hours volunteered with us in this capacity will not count towards any type of supervised legal practice required under a practicing certificate.
Legal Volunteer
We are grateful to lawyers who volunteer with us.
If you have practised environmental law or are interested in environmental and planning law but are currently practising in a different area, becoming an EDO Legal Volunteer might be of interest.
Science volunteers
Volunteers with scientific expertise can support us via our Expert Register.
*please note that all EDO volunteering opportunities listed here are unpaid and voluntary in nature.
Science volunteers
If you are interested in joining our expert register, please:
- Complete our expert register application form:
2. Email your completed form and CV to [email protected] using the subject line Expert Register Application
—–
Unfortunately, space and supervision requirements mean we are not able to offer a place to everyone who applies to volunteer at EDO.
What do previous volunteers say about their experience at EDO?
‘’I loved how supportive the entire team was. Everyone took their time to ensure that I had a task to work on, understood the task, gave me positive/constructive feedback and were extremely thankful when I completed a task. This kind of work culture is hard to come by and I am so blessed I was able to do my PLT in such a supportive environment with such amazing people.’’
‘’…everyone in the team I interacted with, solicitors, admin, and volunteers, were always very friendly and helpful and this created a good team atmosphere. The work I was assigned was varied and really interesting, and any feedback I received from my supervisor was always very helpful. I have learned so much from volunteering at EDO and it was overall a very positive experience.’’
‘’I really enjoyed volunteering because the work I was doing was important and it allowed me to explore an area of law I had little practical experience with…Would have stayed on if I could have!’’
‘’Volunteering at the EDO has been a life-changing experience. The ability to work on important and often ground-breaking cases is incredible.’’
Your time and skills are valuable to us
We rely on the commitment of students, recent graduates and professionals who volunteer their time and skills with us.
Thank you for considering volunteering with EDO.
