Rachel Cashmore Email and Phone Number

In this role I appeared daily in a variety of different matters from criminal law, quasi-criminal and family violence matters. I advocated for my clients in Magistrates' Courts across Victoria, including specialised jurisdictions such as Drug Court, ARC Court, Koori Courts. I also appeared in the County Court of Victoria in breach proceedings and instructing in other matters. I maintained a balance of private matters and VLA funded matters.

Conducting research into legal and criminological scholarship for Professor Arie Frieberg

In this position I attended matters in the Magistrate’s Court of Victoria, and the County Court of Victoria, and instructed upon matters in both the County and Supreme Courts of Victoria. I analysed evidence from police briefs, conducted research on relevant legislation and case law, and assisted the senior lawyers in every day office work.

Section Leader of Metropolitan Remand CentreExecutive position responsible for managing and training presenters, liaising with Corrections staff, co-ordinating regular presentations, and managing a monthly roster.The PLEA Project provides essential community legal education to those held in prison facilities throughout Victoria. We run presentations every week across the state in the areas of criminal law (a preparatory seminar for trial), family law, as well as other presentations that cover infringements, centrelink and other areas of knowledge relevant to those who may be leaving the facility. All of our presenters and committee are law students and volunteer their time for this cause.

In this position, I worked on a number of capital cases in different stages of their appeals. I also worked on civil litigation, regarding issues concerning the prisons our clients resided in, such as heat conditions, medical provisions and officer assaults. As an intern I was responsible for legal research, preparing for depositions, general file work, aiding in the structuring of appendices attaching to writs. I also communicated directly with our clients in Louisiana State Penitentiary, and their families.

In this position, I have been working on the Police Accountability Project at the Legal Centre. This is part of a subject offered at the University of Melbourne, which offers students practical experience within the legal field. As an adviser, I am responsible for interviewing clients, general correspondence to clients and related parties, maintenance of files, and evidence gathering.

This position involves communicating with clients, either directly or through interpreters and taking instructions, as well as compiling briefs, inspecting subpoenas, drafting affidavits, letters, and applications. Concentrating in the area of Family Law, I have gained experience in situations involving family violence, separation and parenting disputes.During my time at VLA I also trained and mentored new interns on the processes used at VLA, and supervised their work.

Administration duties including but not limited to taking calls from clients, organising appointments, and corresponding with clients, audiologists and members of the audiology industry.