My NAAFLS experience Simon Wood

Q & A with Simon Wood

When did you do your internship?

I completed my three-week internship during March 2022 as part of the Postgraduate Legal Internship elective through the Juris Doctor Program at RMIT University.

Why did you choose NAAFLS?

I chose NAAFLS as the ideal workplace for my Internship as I wanted to experience work within a fast-paced, not-for-profit, Aboriginal-led legal service.

What attracted you to the type of work done by NAAFLS?

I became interested in the work done by NAAFLS when I first heard about the N.T Bush Court circuit and the meaningful work that NAAFLS does in the settlements they service. I was excited about the prospect of joining the NAAFLS team on trips to remote Indigenous communities such as Gunbalanya and Wurrumiyanga.

Was there an event during your time as an intern that cemented a desire to work in Family Law?

Although the trips to communities were not possible during my internship due to the COVID restrictions in place at the time, the internship provided me with unforgettable opportunities to shadow NAAFLS’ solicitors in both the Local Court and Children’s Court in Darwin, meet with and support clients, assist with research tasks and contribute to law reform and policy submissions and even attend a mediation session. With the support of NAAFLS, I was able to gain an invaluable first-hand perspective of the operation of the Family Law sector in the Northern Territory, and the justice system more broadly.

What would you say to others who were thinking about doing an internship?

I would strongly encourage anyone interested in Family Law, Aboriginal Justice or Law Reform to apply for an internship experience with NAAFLS. The staff and management are incredibly welcoming, the work is meaningful and rewarding and overall the internship was a uniquely ‘Territory’ experience that I’ll always remember fondly.