To say that the strive to correct the extreme imbalance in our society is worthy is an understatement. The staff and volunteers here do incredible work and demonstrate unbelievable equilibrium under pressure. It is a privilege to be a volunteer here and to be a small part of VALS work. The clients are a joy to work with and their circumstances are a blunt reminder of all that needs doing. The fact that the clients are prepared to share their stories with me is testament to their good will and trust, and to VALS' reputation in the community.

I've had a great time volunteering at VALS - I'm learning a lot and getting a lot of exposure to various laws and legal administrative systems, which is very helpful for my legal studies. It also feels good to be helping the community - I can see the direct impact our work has on the marginalised Indigenous people who access our services.

I have found my time volunteering at VALS to be incredibly valuable. As a law student, it has framed my coursework knowledge around real world experiences and I feel I am not only able but encouraged to thrive in this environment. The collaboration of independent and supported work at VALS is perfectly measured which only further increases the feeling of real impact and assistance with the community.

My volunteer experience at VALS has been invaluable. I feel like I've played a part in assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accessing legal representation and have been exposed to the challenges First Nations people face in general and in the criminal justice system. The work I've been exposed to has been interesting and varied in the Criminal Practice. I've assisted with client intake calls, conflict checks, requesting briefs from police informants. I have also had the opportunity to write a memo of advice for a lawyer, which involved legal research and analysis. I attended Melbourne Magistrates' Court and shadowed a Senior Lawyer and was able to meet one of the criminal clients which I had previously watched and transcribed their client-police interview. My colleagues at VALS have been welcoming, supportive and have provided me with an opportunity to learn and grow in a positive environment. I've really valued learning alongside passionate, experienced and dedicated staff at VALS. This opportunity has allowed me to apply what I've learnt so far during my law degree and has sparked my passion and interest for grass roots community legal services and criminal law.