PRO BONO IN THE NEWS: May – June 2017

Below you can find articles of interest to the pro bono community that have been published since our last edition. Click through to read any news article in full.

You can also follow the latest news in pro bono from Australia and around the world by following the Centre on Twitter: @AusPBC

AUSTRALIA

Julian McMahon and Paris Aristotle honoured for defence of human rights
12 June 2017 – The Guardian

The abolitionist lawyer Julian McMahon and the refugee advocate Paris Aristotle have been recognised in this year’s Queen’s birthday honours list. Julian McMahon, a Melbourne barrister, has been appointed a companion of the Order of Australia for his dedication to defending human rights, in particular advocating for defendants facing the death penalty.

Brian Bourke, Melbourne’s longest serving barrister, honoured for lifetime in law and football
12 June 2017 – ABC News

Mr Bourke, who turns 88 this month, is Victoria’s longest-serving barrister and among recipients of the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division.

Group slams SA legal centre closures
29 May 2017 – AAP

People will miss out on essential legal services because the South Australian government has decided to close some of the state’s Commonwealth-funded community legal centres, a peak body says.

Major Investment To Improve Access To Justice
23 May 2017 – Premier of Victoria

The Victorian Government issued its response to the 2015 Access to Justice Review. The new focus on increasing the capacity of Victorian CLCs to access pro bono assistance is welcome. Amongst other measures, the Department of Justice will review the availability and operation of disbursements funding for pro bono cases. Also of significance are points relating to the role of Legal Aid and the Victoria Law Foundation.

The Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation Announces New Community Partnership With Immigration Advice & Rights Centre
18 May 2017 – Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation

The Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation announced the launch of IARC Plus, a wrap-around legal services initiative in partnership with Immigration Advice and Rights Centre (IARC).

UOW initiated family unification project to support Illawarra’s refugees
13 May 2017 – Illawarra Mercury

University of Wollongong law students are leading community efforts to support Illawarra refugees and their families. This will support the work of Ann Woods, Wollongong’s only registered migration lawyer who does pro bono work with clients from refugee backgrounds. Each student will be assigned a family and will commit to spending one evening a week providing clerical assistance with the completion of forms for family reunification and citizenship.

Law Society congratulates winners of the Attorney General’s Community Service Law Awards
May 2017 – Law Society of WA

The Law Society of Western Australia congratulates Sam Vandongen SC and HHG Legal Group, winners of the Attorney General’s Community Service Law Awards for an individual and organisation respectively.

INTERNATIONAL

Grenfell Tower fire: lawyers step up pro bono efforts
19 June 2017 – The Law Society Gazette

The legal profession has stepped up efforts to provide support to the victims of last week’s fire at Grenfell Tower in West London.

US: Hospitals now tap lawyers to fulfill patients’ legal needs
6 June 2017 – NPR

Legal Aid and private law firms working pro bono are partnering with hospitals to provide holistic care for patients. They’ve helped speed up paperwork for a patient undergoing gender transition, and assisted a woman with multiple sclerosis who lost her job and was facing eviction.

UK: Solicitors to offer free legal advice to victims of London Bridge attack
6 June 2017 – Solicitors Weekly

Following the strong response by UK lawyers to the Manchester Arena attack, London solicitors are now offering free legal advice to victims and families of Saturday’s London Bridge attack. Good pro bono stuff.

UK: Can A Crowdfunding Site Help Make the Justice System More Just?
6 June 2017 – Vocativ

CrowdJustice is a Kickstarter for legal cases in the public interest that aims to improve on generic crowdfunding platforms by seeing the legal process all the way through. CrowdJustice manages the proceedings closely. It works to ensure a lawyer has been hired and monitors how donations are spent.

HK: Legal aid mostly out of reach for Hong Kong’s needy, report finds
31 May 2017 – South China Morning Post

Research by PILnet and DLA Piper revealed unmet need for prelimary legal assistance among Hong Kong’s disadvantaged.

UK: ‘Overwhelming’ pro bono response to Manchester Arena bombing
25 May 2017 – The Law Society Gazette

Manchester Law Society has received an ‘overwhelming’ response in the last 48 hours to its plea for pro bono advice and representation for families and seriously injured people following Monday’s attack on the Manchester Arena.

IT: First pro bono association of lawyers launched in Italy
18 May 2018 – PILnet

Italy gets its first pro bono association of lawyers, law firms and forensic associations.