Perhaps, you’re great in smoothing out conflict. Or, perhaps, you’re interested in a career that gives back to society and those in need. Whatever piques your interest in becoming a community lawyer, getting a real and personal perspective from working in the position is invaluable.
In this article, Kristen talks about her experience working as a Strata and Tenancy lawyer at a community legal centre that provides free legal services
Read on to follow the day of a community lawyer and learn the social importance of their work!
认识克里斯汀
什么是社区律师？
成为社区律师的步骤
Future Outlook
最好的事情和最糟糕的事情
Advice for Aspiring Community Lawyers
认识克里斯汀
Kristen Tsiamis is a C非营利组织的社区律师，Marrickville Legal Centre (‘MLC’)，，，，where she specialises in Strata and Tenancy Law and provides her legal services to people who experience social and economic disadvantage.
How did you end up in this role?
克里斯汀开始寻找‘PLT’ (Practical Legal Training)experience. During her training at MLC, she was paired with various mentors,从律师助理到目前担任地层和租赁律师的角色。
“我开始寻求为我的PLT获得更多经验。这是要求在律师事务所或实践中完成的一定天数，然后才能申请成为新南威尔士州的律师。
“I was allocated to a Civil/Strata lawyer and then to an Employment lawyer. They both really mentored me and I learned a lot from seeing them give advice and drafting advice notes，”克里斯汀首先告诉我们。
她补充说：“这样的实践经验确实可以帮助您学习如何成为更好的律师，并且很难在大型商业公司中获得。”
研究和经验
While studying aJuris Doctor at the University of Sydney，克里斯汀（Kristen）不久新闻集团的律师助理and, then, as alegal assistant at Garvan Institute of Medical Research加入MLC之前。
这是on top of her experience in editorial work，，，，having achieved a Bachelor’s degree with Honours in Journalism.
What made you want to work in this industry?
“Having the opportunity to assist these people is extremely rewarding for me，”克里斯汀说。
什么是社区律师？
顾名思义，社区律师在社区法律中心工作。这些中心是独立的,不t-for-profit organisations, particularly providing free legal services to people that face economic hardship.
Since the cost of legal services can quickly add up,社区法律中心确保人们不会因法律问题而进一步加深人们的财务状况。
社区律师在一个或两个法律领域工作。在MLC，他们的服务包括地层，租赁，青年，家庭和家庭暴力，以及一般法律建议。
角色和责任
克里斯汀（Kristen）的大部分工作日都围绕着communicating with her clients or preparing advice for them.尽管这些建议显然因客户而异，但他们的法律问题与地层和租赁有关，这是财产法的一部分 - 考虑住房情况和租金。
“Much of my day revolves around giving advice to clients, so that meansbeing on the phone for much of the day，，，，” she says.
“当我不与客户交谈或与他们或他们的社会工作者交谈时，通常我是writing up my notes from my conversations with clients or preparing for an advice that might be a little tricky，”她补充说。
可以在哪些行业找到哪些行业？
Community lawyers work in theProfessional, Scientific and Technical Services industry。该行业由通常拥有大学学位的高技能工人组成。
特征和素质
有four knowledge areas社区律师：
- Law and Government
- 批判性思维
- Personal Service
- Administration
Community lawyers engage with their Law and Government knowledge as they每天检查立法和判例法。This also includes administrative work, where they must研究任何相关信息，并确保是否仍然适用各种法律原则or have changed.
为客户工作建立他们的知识领域，，，，both in Critical Thinking and Personal Service.
正如克里斯汀（Kristen）所解释的那样：“You develop advocacy skills quickly, and the ability to think on your feet.With time and experience, you grow to know the legislation really well, so pivoting to answer what can be a difficult question from a client becomes easier as you get to know the law better.”
成为社区律师的步骤?
What should you study?
To work as a community lawyer,you first must have completed a Bachelor of Laws.You’ll also have to complete a法律实践研究生文凭（GDLP）by finishing 15 weeks full-time of PLT (or 30 weeks part-time).
以下是一些提供本科法律学位的大学，您应该检查一下：
完成所有人后，您可以尽早开始PLTPriestley 11核心主题with only 2 electives remaining!
How long does it take to become a Community Lawyer?
You can work as a community lawyeras soon as you graduate from a 4-year Bachelor’s degree in Law and complete your PLT.
Industry Knowledge
Of course, you’ll need to have了解澳大利亚法律以及如何将其应用于客户的问题。This includes knowing how to source relevant information, interpreting the law and how to properly form your arguments for the client.
Other than that,there are no specific software or programs that are used in the industry.For keeping things in order, Kristen says, “我喜欢微软OneNote组织我的建议and notes on clients。”
将来这个职业会是什么样？
How in-demand is this career?
作为legal support to the community is always in need，，，，there is a high and steady demand for community lawyers.
With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic,the demand for tenancy, welfare, domestic and family violence legal advice has been stretched.The aftermath of the pandemic is also expected to sustain the demand for community lawyers.
Are there opportunities to grow or specialise?
“总有学习和成长的空间，我从MLC担任前台主管，然后被雇用为租户倡导者，然后又扮演我的阶层和租赁律师的角色，”克里斯汀说。
“At MLC, employees often move quickly between roles as demand dictates andthe opportunities for gaining experience in areas other young lawyers could only dream of is unparalleled，”她补充说。
估计社区律师工资
| Annual Salary | Future Growth | Skill Level Rating |
|---|---|---|
| $ 85,000+ | Very strong over the next 5 years | Very high skill |
Salaries取决于您是律师的类型。无论您是在公司律师事务所工作还是在初级或高级职位的社区法律中心工作，都会改变这一点。
Influential Trends and the Future of this Industry
随着大部分法律工作正在与客户沟通，批判性思维和法律研究，the growing dependence on digital technology hasn’t really affected the job prospects within the legal industry.
It has even streamlined work，，，，as most material can be found online rather than the hefty task of searching through dense case law and legislation books!
克里斯汀解释说：“我相信法律行业正朝着高水平的计算机化方向发展有望使大部分人口的法律访问成为可能。”
最好的事情和最糟糕的事情
您最喜欢这项工作吗？
The most enjoyable part of Kristen’s job is “that我能够为那些可能没有机会的人提供正义并确保房东或其他做错事的当事方被要求解释。”
What do you enjoy least about this job?
The least enjoyable aspect of the job is that “有时很难与沮丧和绝望的人交谈，，，，but it’s important to know that they aren’t angry at you, but rather their situation”.
Advice for Aspiring Community Lawyers
What do you wish you had known before you started working in this career?
毫无疑问，在法律上工作可能是压力很大。正如克里斯汀（Kristen）告诉我们的那样：“I wish I had known how emotionally draining some cases can beso that I would have been more prepared to take them on.
“虽然说了the benefits far outweigh the occasional stress and disappointmentat not being able to help someone as much as you would like to.”
很难听取客户的不利情况，当您知道他们正在指望您寻求帮助时，甚至更加努力。然而，知道，归根结底，您对真正的人的生活产生了积极的影响，这是非常有意义的。
Why should people consider taking on this career?
“Vulnerable people and those who wouldn’t ordinarily be able to afford help need that help the most, so I believeit’s important to help those who would otherwise be priced out of the legal system.工作满意度很棒！”分享克里斯汀。
工作灵活性
Kristen says, “Absolutely, it’s a job that allows for flexibility as拥有笔记本电脑时，您可以从任何地方工作。既然新南威尔士州的民事和行政法庭都偏远，这要归功于Covid-19，这一点尤其有所帮助。”
What is the workplace culture like?
For Kristen,MLC has a supportive and bright work culture.
“The culture at MLC is fantastic.我们都相处融洽，我们都在团队中进行合作。My favourite part of going into the office (when we could) was having the opportunity to spend some time with the dogs that staff members would bring to work. It is a great de-stressor,” she says on a final note.
Keen to learn more about what a lawyer does? Check out our articlehere!
林恩·陈是智能教育艺术的内容作家，并且是UTS的沟通学beplay体育官方生，拥有创意写作专业。林恩（Lynn）的文章发表在Vertigo，The Comma，并闭嘴。在业余时间，她还写了诗歌。
