Driven by a strong sense of empathy and responsibility, Hannah Fan has built an inspiring volunteering journey across community legal education, refugee tutoring and legal advocacy. Through her work with the Aboriginal Legal Service, the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre and the Refugee Language Tutoring Program, Hannah has combined practical legal experience with a deep commitment to supporting vulnerable communities. Her experiences have shaped her into a thoughtful, adaptable and community-minded future lawyer.

What motivated you to start volunteering?

From a young age, I was taught to serve with love and that giving back is part of responsibility. Volunteering was always framed to me not as something you do for reward, but as a way of showing up for others with empathy, respect, and consistency.

My motivation to volunteer in legal spaces came while studying criminal and civil procedure, when I became curious about how the criminal justice system operates in practice. I wanted to understand the real-world context, particularly for communities who are often disadvantaged within the system. A friend recommended the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS), and it became a way for me to be part of that environment in a more hands-on way.

What have you gained from your volunteering experience?

Through my involvement on the Supreme Court Bails team at the ALS, I’ve gained a strong set of practical legal skills, including drafting bail applications, answering client enquiries, and preparing affidavits. Shadowing solicitors in court was also a valuable way to bridge the gap between theory and practice, and these experiences have directly carried through to other activities like mooting and client interviewing.

Just as importantly, I’ve gained a real sense of responsibility in my work. You’re often preparing material that solicitors rely on in urgent, time-sensitive situations, so there’s a strong emphasis on accuracy, attention to detail, and taking ownership of your tasks.

I’ve also really valued the team environment. You’re usually working alongside other students, which makes the experience both collaborative and genuinely enjoyable. There’s a supportive, almost mentoring culture where people are willing to help each other out, and you end up learning just as much from your peers as you do from the work itself.

What’s one moment that has stayed with you?

One moment that has stayed with me was working on support letters at the ALS. These letters were prepared to help demonstrate a client’s ties to the community and often drew on input from family members, employers, friends, and community contacts.

What stood out most was a phone call I received from one client’s mother. She spoke in detail about her son: what he was like growing up, his close relationships with his siblings, and the role he played within the family. More than anything, she emphasised how important it was for him to return to a stable, supportive environment in the community so he could begin to rehabilitate surrounded by people who knew him best.

What I found most impactful about this experience was how much of effective legal work in that setting depended on listening and building trust with clients and their families. Even within a procedural task like bail preparation, there was a clear opportunity to engage meaningfully with people, and to ensure their circumstances were communicated accurately and respectfully.