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

Justice Connect, Google unlock pro bono with The Gateway Project
Australian Financial Review – 6 September 2018
The country’s largest broker of pro bono legal work, Justice Connect, says its new computer platform, which has been seed-funded by Google, will help close the “justice gap” by supplying an additional 20,000 hours of legal advice to thousands of new clients over the next two years.

How GRT Lawyers rolled the dice on a social business model that’s paying dividends 
Australian Financial Review – 9 August 2018
When Glenn Vassallo and Scott Standen started their own law firm, they rolled the dice on a business model that would give away a good slice of their profits. Almost eight years later, it’s paying dividends.

DLA Piper urges lawyers to be goodwill champions
Australasian Lawyer – 15 August 2018
A global law firm is urging Australian lawyers to be goodwill champions as it launches a project with UNICEF that targets legal professionals. DLA Piper has helped launch the GoodWILL project in Australia, where only 7.5% of people who make wills leave a gift for charity. The firm said that a significant portion of people would consider leaving a charitable gift if asked by their solicitor when preparing a will, according to research.

Pro bono and law students: what’s in it for me?
LawCareers.Net – 13 August 2018
Former director of Nottingham Law School’s Legal Advice Centre, Nick Johnson outlines the benefits of pro bono and explains why those on the receiving end of free legal advice are not the only ones who stand to gain.

Final Report: The Justice Project
Law Council of Australia – 23 August 2018
Since early 2017, the Law Council of Australia has been conducting a national, comprehensive review into the state of access to justice in Australia for people experiencing significant disadvantage. Focussing on 13 priority groups identified as facing significant social and economic disadvantage, the final report shines a light on justice issues for these groups by uncovering systemic flaws and identifying service gaps. It also highlights what is working well.

Could a designer’s mindset bridge the justice gap? 
Lawyers Weekly – 15 August 2018
According to The Law Council of Australia, 13 per cent of Australians live under the poverty line yet legal aid is available only to the bottom 8 per cent. The Queensland Law Society reports that 170,000 people are turned away from community legal centres each year. The “missing middle” is growing and unresolved legal issues continue to have the biggest impact on disadvantaged Australians.

INTERNATIONAL

Firms provide pro bono assistance to Kansas City communities
ABA Journal – September 2018
In 2011, there were five vacant lots at the corner of Wabash Avenue and East 29th Street in Kansas City, Missouri, that residents considered an eyesore. The intersection in the city’s Key Coalition neighborhood had faded in the last few decades as residents with money left. But thanks to Dre Taylor, a local social entrepreneur, those lots were transformed into a thriving urban farm by 2016.

Pro bono: Leading the way
The Global Legal Post – 24 August 2018
Culture, structure and inclusiveness are key to starting a pro bono programme in a new office, say Jenner & Block lawyers Andrew Vail, Christian Tuddenham and Victoria Fitzpatrick.

New Legal Center Gives Military Sexual Assault Survivors A Voice And Hope
Forbes – 31 August 2018
It’s been more than three years since former Chief Prosecutor of the Air Force Colonel Don Christensen left the military feeling disgusted with its treatment of sexual assault victims and ready to advocate on their behalf from outside the armed forces.

Partnering for Pro Bono, Dentons Teams Up With Paladin for Law Firm Tech Platform
The American Lawyer – 27 August 2018
International law firm Dentons announced last week that it is partnering with workflow platform provider Paladin to develop a system which will allow attorneys at law firms to discover pro bono opportunities without having to seek them out themselves.

Herbert Smith Freehills Acts For CPAG Helping Secure Landmark Supreme Court Judgement
Herbert Smith Freehills – 31 August 2018
Herbert Smith Freehills is delighted to announce that the Supreme Court has handed down a landmark human rights law judgment regarding the Widowed Parent’s Allowance. The firm acted for Child Poverty Group (CPAG) in a Pro Bono capacity, helping to secure this victory.

Why there is much more to CSR than just corporate charity
Arab News – 28 August 2018
The term corporate social responsibility (CSR) has recently been widely heard across different business sectors. It has been the main focus of many events and conferences, and there is fierce competition among companies to adopt and apply this concept. It is a key component in the culture of corporate governance and the regulatory frameworks that affect both the corporate sector itself and the whole community.

Finally, a Holistic Approach to Combating Mental Health Issues in the Fashion Industry
Vogue – 29 August 2018
The subject of mental health has been more or less taboo across most fields, but today, the fashion industry is taking a step in the right direction. The newly formed Humans of Fashion Foundation, which aims to address and prevent assault, misconduct, and mental health issues, is launching an app to help connect fashion professionals to licensed therapists, pro bono lawyers for legal counsel, and a mentor network.