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

30 Under 30 finalists revealed

Lawyers Weekly – 26 March 2019

This year, 265 young lawyers across a broad range of firms, organisations and industries have made the finalist list, including 10 pro bono lawyers.

Leading Australian firms endorse Uluru Statement from the Heart

Australasian Lawyer – 23 March 2019

Eighteen of the nation’s top law firms have supported the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Baker McKenzie gives asylum seekers in Australia a boost

Australasian Lawyer – 23 March 2019

Baker McKenzie has expanded its partnership with the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS) to give more support to people seeking asylum in Australia.

Youth justice advocates say procedures ‘akin to torture’ could be legalised in NT this week

ABC News – 20 March 2019

Changes to youth justice laws being pushed through NT Parliament this week have been labelled a blatant “arse-covering” attempt by advocates who say it will allow procedures akin to torture to be used against detainees.

New resource – Family Violence Law Help website

Legal Aid – 12 March 2019

National Legal Aid has launched Family Violence Law Help, a new website for people affected by domestic and family violence.

INTERNATIONAL

NZ: Canterbury lawyers leading nationwide drive to offer pro bono services to families affected by terrorist attack

New Zealand Law Society – 22 March 2019

Canterbury lawyers have responded to the horrific terrorist attacks on the Christchurch Muslim community by calling for lawyers to offer pro bono services to families affected.

UK: ‘Victims of the justice system’ left to rely on free help from lawyers let down by courts, judiciary and legal aid, blasts former top family judge

Legal Cheek – 22 March 2019

Errors by courts and judges that left a couple’s final divorce decree potentially void was exposed in a judgment from the former head of the family division, who slammed the state for “washing its hands” of the problem it created by not granting legal aid to the parties to resolve their case.

China: China standardizes legal aid for criminal matters

Global Times – 19 March 2019

China’s Ministry of Justice has issued a new national standard for legal aid for criminal matters in a bid to improve the quality of such services.

USA: “Mr. Pro Bono” opposes mandatory voluntary work

Mid Hudson News – 18 March 2019

New York State Bar Association President Michael Miller, who has the reputation as “Mr. Pro Bono” for all of his free legal services, is opposed to attempts by the state to make it mandatory.

USA: Trump Budget Seeks to Cut Off Legal Aid Group

Courthouse News Service – 18 March 2019

Among the cuts suggested in the budget President Donald Trump proposed last week is the elimination of a federally funded corporation that gives grants to civil legal aid programs, according to a document the White House released Monday.

Canada: Ontario asks federal government for $45-million to fund legal aid for refugees, immigrants

The Globe and Mail – 18 March 2019

Ontario Attorney-General Caroline Mulroney is calling on Ottawa to fully fund a $45-million provincial legal-aid program for immigrants and refugees in Tuesday’s federal budget.