Iris Kosavisutte is studying a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Law and Society at UWA, and has been nominated for the McCusker Centre for Citizenship Outstanding Intern Award for her recent internship contribution with the Citizens Advice Bureau of Western Australia Incorporated (CABWA).
Supporting the work of CABWA, which provides low-cost legal advice and mediation services, gave Iris the opportunity to make a tangible difference for vulnerable clients; doing so alongside her role at a private family law firm also gave her an appreciation of disparities in access to justice.
“At CABWA, many clients face financial and literacy barriers that prevent them from accessing private legal representation. This made me more conscious of the need for information that is clear and inclusive, particularly for people navigating disputes on their own,” Iris said.
“Being in an environment where people were motivated by making a positive impact in the community and helping people facing disadvantage was truly inspiring. It made me reflect on the kind of lawyer I want to become.
“I worked on a combination of digital marketing and legal projects, and my role expanded to support the Mediation Services team through legal and the review of family, community, and commercial dispute policies and documentation. Balancing legal accuracy with accessibility was a challenge, and the experience honed my ability to translate complex legal concepts into simpler terms, strengthened my research skills, and deepened my understanding of client vulnerability.”
Among Iris’ projects were a step-by-step manual for property settlements in family law, covering all relevant Family Court forms and outlining client’s legal rights, creating a directory of affordable legal consultations for clients heading into mediation to support fairness in outcomes, and drawing up a plan to increase traffic to CAB’s digital platforms.
Sarah Clifford, Volunteer and Client Services Coordinator at CABWA, said that Iris’ internship would improve the organisation’s engagement with the community.
“Iris was very professional and able to work autonomously with little direction, while also fitting in seamlessly with our team to support their work,” Sarah said.
“Iris was always so positive and task orientated, and with the speed that she learned different aspects of tasks, she would be an asset to any employer. I wish her well in her future endeavours,” Sarah said.
Iris said that being nominated for the Outstanding Intern Award was an honour:
“The work I did at CABWA was already incredibly fulfilling, and knowing I was able to help people was rewarding enough for me. The nomination was an added encouragement to keep pursuing work that makes a difference for the community,” she said.
“My internship reinforced the importance of embedding social justice principles into legal work, a perspective I will be carrying with me throughout my career.”