Madeleine Teo joined the Justice and Equity Centre as a secondee from the Australian Government Solicitor in November 2024.
Maddie worked in the Women’s Service of the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service (HPLS), where she valued the chance to work with clients facing disadvantage, while honing her skills as a solicitor.
‘I feel privileged to have worked with a team of people who really go the extra mile to help our clients, who are often women who are vulnerable and may experience disadvantage,’ Maddie said.
‘It’s difficult to quantify these interactions with our clients, but they really do have a lasting and significant impact, even if these interactions are not readily captured in the statistics.’
For Maddie, this approach was demonstrated when HPLS lawyers devoted extra time and resources to a client with a matter in the Tribunal, to help them understand the process.
‘We wrote out, in simple terms, the details of negotiations with the other side and what might happen at her NCAT hearing, and booked an appointment with the client and her caseworker to go through it in detail.’
‘This is not a step that necessarily changed the outcome of the matter. But the level of care for our client, the additional time spent, and the concern to ensure she was informed and involved in her matter was invaluable to her experience receiving legal assistance.’
‘In the end, we got a great outcome for the client – she was not evicted, and her long-term lease could continue.’
HPLS’s methods also bring benefits for secondees looking to enrich their career with diverse experiences, as Maddie explains.
‘During my time at the JEC, I’ve developed my client-facing skills, including explaining legal concepts in everyday language, developing a trauma-informed approach to clients experiencing vulnerability, and identifying legal issues from sometimes complex client stories.’
‘These are skills that will undoubtedly assist my legal career, equipping me with the ability to communicate effectively with a range of clients and provide them with practical and succinct advice.’
‘I have very much enjoyed being part of a team that so clearly values our clients’ experiences. I also appreciate that the HPLS team is a lot of fun. The weekly conversations we have sharing experiences from advice clinic and from meetings with clients are the highlight of my week!’
Reflecting on an opportunity to make a life-changing difference
Madeleine Teo joined the Justice and Equity Centre as a secondee from the Australian Government Solicitor in November 2024.
Maddie worked in the Women’s Service of the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service (HPLS), where she valued the chance to work with clients facing disadvantage, while honing her skills as a solicitor.
‘I feel privileged to have worked with a team of people who really go the extra mile to help our clients, who are often women who are vulnerable and may experience disadvantage,’ Maddie said.
‘It’s difficult to quantify these interactions with our clients, but they really do have a lasting and significant impact, even if these interactions are not readily captured in the statistics.’
For Maddie, this approach was demonstrated when HPLS lawyers devoted extra time and resources to a client with a matter in the Tribunal, to help them understand the process.
‘We wrote out, in simple terms, the details of negotiations with the other side and what might happen at her NCAT hearing, and booked an appointment with the client and her caseworker to go through it in detail.’
‘This is not a step that necessarily changed the outcome of the matter. But the level of care for our client, the additional time spent, and the concern to ensure she was informed and involved in her matter was invaluable to her experience receiving legal assistance.’
‘In the end, we got a great outcome for the client – she was not evicted, and her long-term lease could continue.’
HPLS’s methods also bring benefits for secondees looking to enrich their career with diverse experiences, as Maddie explains.
‘During my time at the JEC, I’ve developed my client-facing skills, including explaining legal concepts in everyday language, developing a trauma-informed approach to clients experiencing vulnerability, and identifying legal issues from sometimes complex client stories.’
‘These are skills that will undoubtedly assist my legal career, equipping me with the ability to communicate effectively with a range of clients and provide them with practical and succinct advice.’
‘I have very much enjoyed being part of a team that so clearly values our clients’ experiences. I also appreciate that the HPLS team is a lot of fun. The weekly conversations we have sharing experiences from advice clinic and from meetings with clients are the highlight of my week!’
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