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Who we need
We are looking for female volunteer lawyers to visit imprisoned mothers in Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility (ARWCF), Christchurch Women’s Prison (CWP) and Arohata Prison in Wellington.
Our volunteers often do not have expertise in family law. They may work in large commercial law firms and in-house roles. What they all have in common is a desire to help imprisoned mothers and their children.
What volunteers do
Our volunteers visit to the three women's prison's in Aotearoa. Our volunteers help mothers understand their responsibilities and rights as parents. This may include helping to locate children within the care system and speaking with caregivers and, where involved, Oranga Tamariki on behalf of mothers regarding interaction with their children. Our volunteers also help engage family lawyers, if needed, and obtain court orders on behalf of mothers.
What to expect during a visit
Once a mother signs a consent form and provides some general background information, the volunteers will seek to help. Few issues can be addressed immediately but most do not require time-consuming follow-up. Such follow-up work is coordinated between volunteers, who often work together to help each other, and supervision is available if volunteers have questions. Updates for the mothers are either provided via email back into the prison or shared during the next monthly visit.