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

Rupert’s story
Salvos Legal – 29 March 2018
The Salvos Legal team helped Rupert through the QCAT process, producing a positive result for this migrant who hadn’t been able to assert his rights against an unscrupulous builder.

Women’s Legal Service QLD receives biggest donation in its history
Lawyers Weekly – 22 March 2018
Great news for this CLC receiving their largest donation ever. The generosity of Hand Heart Pocket makes possible a building extension and an additional 2,000 free legal appointments for women suffering domestic violence.

Graduate glut confusion misses the point – it’s about jobs
Lawyers Weekly – 20 March 2018
Does Australia have an oversupply of law grads? Nicholas van Hattem, director of the Piddington Justice Project, adds his voice to the debate. He says too many grads – if they do get jobs – find employment outside of the profession, making law a very costly generalist degree.

NSW debt recovery laws improved by amendments
Community Legal Centres NSW – 15 March 2018
Amendments pushed for by CLCs to the State Debt Recovery Bill passed NSW Parliament last night, making the Bill fairer for people in vulnerable situations and facing economic disadvantage.

National Press Club Address ‘Justice State of the Nation’
Law Council of Australia – 14 March 2018
Morry Bailes and Fiona McLeod SC addressed the National Press Club on access to justice issues in Australia and the findings of the Law Council’s Justice Project. Fiona’s speech highlights several areas of unmet legal need in Australia.

Working for asylum seekers on Nauru
Law Institute of Victoria Young Lawyers Blog – 13 March 2018
Young Holding Redlich lawyer Kirsty Osborne recently undertook pro bono legal work for a Nepalese asylum seeker – the case was successful on appeal to the High Court. In this article, Kirsty shares her valuable insights into her experience working on the case, including the skills she needed and developed, and the support she got from her firm.

First Nations Lawyer Award
Marrawah Lawyers – 12 March 2018
Leah Cameron has been awarded the Queensland Law Society’s First Nations Lawyer of the Year Award. Marrawah Lawyers, of which Leah is Principal Solicitor and Owner, is a recent signatory to the National Aspirational Pro Bono Target.

INTERNATIONAL

Singapore: Parliament: New Law Society fund to benefit those eligible and in need of free legal services, says Indranee
The Straits Times – 20 March 2018
The Law Society of Singapore will manage the Unclaimed Money Fund, which will support those who need but are ineligible for pro bono services.

US: Legal tech is opening the system to those who need legal representation the most
Tech Crunch – 13 March 2018
Here’s a great example of how legal tech is already being developed to improve access to justice. The JustFix.nyc app allows tenants to record photos and notes of any building issues, then generates the relevant legal documents so they can file a case.

UK: From refugee to Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year
The Law Society – 12 March 2018
This refugee who fled Iran had such a great asylum lawyer that he decided to go to law school. In this piece he shares about some of the unexpected struggles he faced (like language barriers!) and how he came through and won the award for Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year

US: Startup by Notre Dame law students will aim to help undocumented children
South Bend Tribune – 11 March 2018
Three Notre Dame Law students have created a legal startup called Impowerus. They’re using technology to improve access to justice for undocumented minors, connecting them with pro bono lawyers in a way that’s also cost efficient for the lawyers.

Africa: Africa and pro bono – is Africa behind, or different?
International Bar Association
Here’s a brief but informative overview of the pro bono landscape in Africa.

Online course: Pro bono work and social justice
Open University
Open University is offering a free online course about pro bono and its relationship with law schools, legal aid and social justice generally. It involves approximately 8 hours of study and participants receive a statement of participation upon completion.