What’s happening this autumn
Upcoming events of interest to the pro bono and access to justice community in Australia.
Asia Pro Bono Conference continues to emphasise education and empowerment
The focus of this conference continues to be on education and empowerment with a significant number of students attending particularly from the University of Malaya, but also students from Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane and the University of Newcastle. Staff and students from the law faculties of the Universities from the region and NGOs made up about 20-25 per cent of the audience. This, together with the many lawyers from less developed countries in the region and its participatory style gives this conference a unique informality and dynamism.
Centre launches pro bono guide for in-house corporate lawyers
On 3 August 2017 the Centre launched Pro Bono Legal Work – A Guide for In-house Corporate Lawyers at an event at the Law Society of New South Wales. This resource is available free of charge on the Centre’s website. The Guide was launched by Brian Salter, Group General Counsel, AMP Limited, and Chairperson, ACC Australia GCC 100 who said: “the golden thread of modern contemporary legal practice is the opportunity to participate in pro-bono.”
MEDIA RELEASE: New Guide to Drive Pro Bono Work By In-House Corporate Lawyers
A new guide to support in-house corporate legal teams to do pro bono legal work was launched at an event held at the Law Society of New South Wales on 3 August 2017 as part of a new joint initiative by the Australian Pro Bono Centre, the Law Society of NSW and the Association of Corporate Council.
Nominate now for the 2017 Pro Bono Partnership Award
Nominations for the 2017 Law & Justice Foundation Justice Awards are still open – but closing soon, at 5pm on Friday 7 July.
Upcoming conferences
Upcoming conferences in 2017 include the NACLC conference (9-11 August, Canberra), the Sixth Asia Pro Bono Conference (30 September-2 October, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), and the PILnet Global Pro Bono Forum (16-19 October, Budapest, Hungary).
Lawyers Walking for Justice on National Pro Bono Day 2017 raise record amount for pro bono clearing houses
The 2017 Walk for Justice was a great success. Despite a slight drop in numbers overall, the event has already raised a record $173,299 for LawRight, Law Access WA, Justice Connect and JusticeNet SA, up from $157,000 in 2016.
Report from the Sixth National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference – Adelaide, March 2017
The National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference is taking place in Adelaide this week, due in large part to the advocacy of JusticeNet SA, South Australia’s principal pro bono clearing house and legal service which four months ago, was in danger of closing due to lack of funding. It is now advocating for a ‘pro bono plan’ to secure the future of coordinated pro bono in South Australia. Its Director Tim Graham tells the story.
Profile: Sheldon Krantz, keynote speaker at the forthcoming National Access to Justice & Pro Bono Conference to be held in in Adelaide on March 23/24
Prof Sheldon Krantz, founder of DLA Piper’s New Perimeter, has devoted much of his career to developing models of pro bono that improve access to justice.