Pro Bono Roster FAQs

All law students, no matter their year level or experience, can join the roster and engage in projects. There are projects available for everyone, including first year students. 

Some roster opportunities require senior law students, as they demand a particular legal grounding to understand and add value to the work undertaken with the partner. Some opportunities are better suited to junior students looking to build their skills and experience. 

Particular subject prerequisites (e.g. family law, labour law, civil procedure etc.) may be requested for particular tasks and can be found in the task position description.

The Centre aims to provide a variety of roles and experiences for students to get involved in. Some in-person roles have a defined time commitment (e.g. one afternoon per week), whereas research-based tasks can often be performed more flexibly at home.

The time commitment involved in a pro bono task is typically advertised in the project position description:

• Urgent tasks usually carry a turnaround time of 1-2 weeks
• Medium-term tasks are usually 1-2 months in duration
• Longer-term tasks often span the length of the university semester 

While being allocated to a pro bono task is a serious commitment, students are expected to prioritise their studies over volunteering or extra-curricular activities. If you are experiencing difficulties balancing pro bono work with your other commitments, please contact the Centre as soon as possible so that we can discuss ways to support you.

Once you have signed up to the Pro Bono Roster, you will receive notifications of opportunities that arise via email.

All applications for pro bono tasks are submitted through StudentHub unless otherwise advised.

1. Login to StudentHub with your student credentials
2. Search "UQ Pro Bono Centre"
3. Select the task that you would like to apply for
4. Fill out the application form 
5. Attach your supporting application statement and resume

All relevant information, including when you'll hear back regarding the status of your application, can be found on the task's position description. 

When selecting students for Roster tasks, the Pro Bono Centre is committed to following a fair and transparent process so that the greatest number of students have the opportunity to be involved in projects/tasks. As a general rule, students are matched with tasks that fit best with their skillset; and, often, the project partner organisation will participate in the selection process. Where possible, the Centre organises teams with a mix of students who have some experience with pro bono tasks and students who are new to pro bono tasks.

The Centre evaluates applications based on the information supplied in the applicant’s written supporting statement and through any supporting documentation supplied via StudentHub.

Selection factors

The following factors are taken into account when selecting students for Roster projects:

• Has the student demonstrated a genuine interest in the project?
• Does the student have the necessary skills to complete the task?
• Has the student completed tasks through the Pro Bono Centre before? 

Generally, students who can demonstrate a genuine interest in community legal work will be preferred to those who apply for other reasons, such as career advancement. If a student has completed a project through the Centre before, consideration will be paid to the student's prior track record (i.e. did they complete the task in a timely manner and to an appropriate standard?) and how long it has been since they undertook a task. In the interests of fairness, students recently selected for another pro bono task will not be given preference over students who have never had an opportunity to participate.

The Centre uses a rubric to assess student applications, which can be accessed at any time to assist you with your applications.

View the selection rubric

Feedback is provided to every student via StudentHub when their application for a pro bono task has been unsuccessful. Students are encouraged to apply again and to address any issues raised in this feedback. Where possible, students should let us know in their application statements if they have applied for a pro bono task previously, as we will try to give priority to those who have missed out. Unsuccessful applicants are also welcome to request further feedback on their application at any stage via email: probono@law.uq.edu.au.

For general assistance on writing application statements for pro bono tasks, see our application hints and tips guide.

One of the huge benefits of undertaking pro bono work is the collegiate team environment and the opportunity to form professional networks. All pro bono tasks are supervised by leading UQ academics or by legal practitioners working in the industry. Students working on pro bono tasks will be introduced to the partner organisation requesting the pro bono work and their project supervisors at an initial meeting. 

Centre staff are also dedicated to supporting you at every stage of your volunteering experience. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have a question or concern, and we will do our best to assist.

Additional support and resources

The safety and mental wellbeing of students volunteering through the Pro Bono Centre is our utmost priority. Due to the nature of pro bono work and its remit in helping society's most vulnerable, we recognise that undertaking volunteer roles can sometimes trigger difficult reactions and/or emotions. 

UQ support

Help is available at UQ to support your mental health and wellbeing via a wide range of programs and services. Click here for sources of information and support.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, you can get help at any time of day or night. If you need to speak to someone urgently, call Student Services to request a crisis appointment (8am-5pm, Monday to Friday): 07 3365 1704. Alternatively, if you need assistance outside of the above hours, please call our UQ Counselling and Crisis Line: 1300 851 998. You can book a confidential appointment with UQ counsellors for personal support online via StudentHub.

Self-care tips for volunteers

• Know that some reactions are normal and unavoidable when working with difficult material
• Let your peers and supervisors know how you're feeling and be patient with yourself
• If you experience a critical event, talk to someone about your thoughts and feelings so that you can process difficult experiences

Adapted from the 'Caring for Volunteers: A psychosocial support toolkit' from the IFRC Psychosocial Centre. 

Yes! The Centre is committed to embedding aspects of social justice into the law curriculum. The following opportunities are advertised regularly via the Centre and have their own separate application processes:

• Clinical Legal Education (LAWS5180/LAWS7180) - undertake a clinical placement in a Brisbane-based community legal centre for academic credit. During your clinical placement, you will spend one day per week during semester undertaking legal work under the close supervision of experienced lawyers.
• Transnational Perspectives in Law (LAWS5233) - undertake an international clinical placement with a non-profit partner organisation working in the social justice space supported by New Columbo Plan funding. International placements are usually held over the summer semester. 

Yes, Pro Bono Centre opportunities arise throughout the calendar year.

Flexibility is provided to students around University SWOTVAC (revision periods) and exams to focus on end-of-semester assessments. The Centre actively encourages all pro bono partners to respect this busy time and allow students to prioritise their studies by allowing them time off.

Feedback is vital to ensure that we continue to create relevant and worthwhile opportunities for students to participate in the delivery of pro bono legal services in Queensland. Students that have completed a pro bono task through the Centre are invited to provide feedback at any stage by completing our evaluation survey.

Complete the survey