Volunteer With Us

The idea for North Queensland Women’s Legal Service was born from a group of passionate volunteers who recognised a critical gap in legal services available to women across regional Queensland.

Today, that spirit of community and service remains at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to continue a strong legacy of volunteering, welcoming many university students seeking hands-on experience in a rewarding career, to experienced legal professionals (often with full-time careers of their own) who generously donate their time, knowledge, and compassion to support women throughout North and Far North Queensland. By volunteering with us, you become part of a dedicated network committed to empowering women and creating safer, stronger communities.

With the help of volunteers, more women can receive the vital legal support they need, when they need it most. At North Queensland Women’s Legal Service, our volunteer lawyers play an essential role in helping us extend our reach across North and Far North Queensland, ensuring women can access compassionate, high-quality legal advice regardless of their location.

We are proud to offer a fully remote volunteer advice service for family lawyers with at least two years post-admission experience. This flexible opportunity allows legal professionals to provide meaningful support from anywhere, at times that suit their schedule. Whether you are looking to give back to the community, stay connected to meaningful legal work, or use your experience to make a tangible difference in the lives of women, we would love for you to join our remote volunteer team.

Remote Volunteer Advice Service

NQWLS provides free legal advice and support to women living in the top half of Queensland in the following areas:

  • Domestic, Family & Sexual Violence

    • Family Law

    • Separation & Divorce

    • Parenting

  • Property

  • Child Safety

  • Migration & Visa Matters.

Legal volunteers assist NQWLS by phone, from their home or office, by:

  • Providing telephone legal advice to our clients

  • Providing internal training and continuing professional development to our staff and volunteers.

If you are a solicitor or barrister interested in volunteering with NQWLS, register your interest in our Remote Volunteer Advice Service below.

Volunteer Testimonial

"I am always extremely grateful for my time as an NQWLS volunteer. Being able to learn and be supported by people I aspired to be like in the future, grew my passion to be part of the legal profession and make a difference in the community. Volunteering is usually about helping other people, but what I did not expect was how impactful it would be for me. The experience that I gained and connections that I made during my time volunteering was invaluable to my career and my development as a soon-to-be professional. Most of all, I genuinely loved being part of an organisation that is so instrumental in the community with like-minded people who became some of my most treasured mentors."

-Kaitlin, Volunteer

University Student Volunteers

NQWLS has a long and proud history of supporting, training, and empowering university student volunteers, who play an important role in helping us deliver services to women in need.

Volunteering at NQWLS provides invaluable insight into how a legal practice (and specifically a women’s legal service) operates. You’ll gain hands-on experience that strengthens both your professional skills and your understanding of the community sector. All university student volunteers are fully supervised and supported by our experienced team and you’ll receive a thorough induction and training tailored to your role.

Volunteering with us is a chance to build your experience, knowledge, and confidence - while making a real difference to the lives of women in your community.

Law student volunteers assist with a variety of meaningful tasks, including:

  • Taking notes during client interviews (including at Domestic Violence Court)

  • Assisting in drafting letters and documents

  • Conducting legal research

  • Supporting administrative functions.

At NQWLS our work extends far beyond legal services alone. As a community organisation supporting women across North and Far North Queensland, we have a diverse range of professional functions in-house, including social work, marketing and communications, administration, and community engagement.

From time to time, we can accommodate university students studying non-legal disciplines on a project or ongoing basis.

We welcome expressions of interest from tertiary students studying:

  • Marketing & Communications

  • Graphic Design

  • Social Work

  • Psychology

  • Administration

  • Business Management

  • Statistics

We appreciate a regular commitment (for example, weekly or fortnightly) for a full day or half day. NQWLS can provide flexibility around your study and life commitments including exam periods.

To express interest in our University Student Volunteer Program, please register below.