Our staff

Kim Hoods

Kim Hoods is a Rōia Hapori (Community Lawyer) in the Refugee & Immigration Legal Advisory Service team (RILAS). Her particular focus is in the family violence (FV) area working with migrants who are on temporary visas and experiencing family violence.

She also assists at CLWHV advice drop-in clinics during the RILAS sessions both in Pōneke (Wellington) and Te Awa Kairangi (Hutt Valley). Kim works under the supervision of the RILAS Kaihautū and Senior FV Lawyer.

Jacob Baxter

Jacob (He/Him) is the Kaihautū (manager) for the Refugee and Immigration Legal Advice Service (‘RILAS’).  He has worked primarily in Immigration and Refugee law in private practice, doing a wide range of immigration work including representing clients in refugee claims, IPT appeals, Ministerial requests, and a range of visa applications. Jacob assists his team and Community Law’s many volunteers and advocates to give advice and effectively represent clients in the immigration and refugee fields.

Email: Jacob@wclc.org.nz

Oscar Upperton

Oscar is the Rōia Kaihautū / Senior Lawyer for the general legal team. He oversees the general legal team and primarily works on consumer, tenancy, employment, and criminal matters. Oscar has a background in public law and in peer-based support and advocacy for trans and gender diverse communities.

Manuela Miville-Fogliani

Manuela (she/her) is one of our Rōia Hapori / Community Lawyer in our general legal team. Manuela provides legal advice and advocacy in a range of matters including family, criminal, consumer and employment.

Brigid Quirke

Brigid (she/her) is a Kaituhi Rauemi / Legal Resource Writer. She researches and writes for the Community Law Manual, our flagship plain language guide to your rights in Aotearoa New Zealand. Brigid has a background in law and literature. She is a current Masters student at Te Herenga Waka, with research focused on contemporary Palestinian resistance poetry. 

 You can get in touch with Brigid at brigid@wclc.org.nz

Olive Grant

Olive is the Kaiārahi Project Coordinator. She is responsible for providing legal education to community groups, coordinating outreach clinics, and managing CL’s pro bono relationship with law firms.  Olive has a background working in social welfare policy. They also teach pottery.

Email: olive@wclc.org.nz

Queenie Scott-Murray

Queenie Scott-Murray (NgāPuhi, Ngāti Awa) is a Kaihāpai Hapori (Community Advocate) in the Pou Whirinaki Team. You can read more about our Pou Whirinaki team here

Email: Queenie@wclc.org.nz

Claire Downey

Claire (she/her) (Ngāti Kahungunu) is the Sales & Sponsorship Coordinator for the Publications team and is also completing her Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Art History at Te Herenga Waka. Claire works on marketing and distributing our publications, and securing purchases and sponsorships, especially for our flagship resource, the Community Law Manual. At the core of Claire’s work is liaising with law firms and community organisations across the motu to get the Manual to those who need it.

To kōrero about sponsoring a Manual, get in touch at publications@wclc.org.nz

Laura Drew

Laura is one of our two Rōia Hapori Kāinga/ Housing Community Lawyers. Laura provides legal advice and advocacy to clients on housing and tenancy matters.

Email: laura@wclc.org.nz

Esther Gedye Taylor

Esther is the Kairuruku Paremata Whakahaumanu (Restorative Justice Coordinator) for the Wellington court. You can reach her on 022 123 6065 or esther@wclc.org.nz

Ben Drury

Ben is one of the Kairuruku Kaitūao (Volunteer Coordinators). They work part-time supporting our volunteers who provide legal services to the community. Primarily, they look after the Student Right Service in conjunction with WCJP which offers information about rights at school and kura across Aotearoa. Alongside working at CLWHV, they are completing their Bachelor of Law and History at VUW. Ben uses they/them pronouns. Details on applying to volunteer can be found here.

Louise Lin

Louise is one of our Kairuruku Kaitūao/Volunteer Coordinators. She is a Cultural Anthropology graduate from VUW and has experience working with different community organisations. Details on applying to volunteer can be found here.

E-mail: louise@wclc.org.nz