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.

As part of the Justice Awards, the Centre sponsors the Pro Bono Partnership Award. The Award is presented to a partnership comprising a private law firm, community organisation and/or community legal centre in NSW which has developed an outstanding pro bono legal assistance relationship, resulting in improved access to justice for disadvantaged people in the community.

In 2016, law firm Carter Ferguson partnering with the Wollongong Women’s Information Service received the Award for their pro bono clinic. The Clinic assists particularly vulnerable and disadvantaged women who are often victims of family violence, some of whom have mental health or drug-related issues, and most of whom are marginalised and isolated.

The criteria for selection are as follows:

• The nature of the partnership. Is it innovative (e.g. in terms of the forms of assistance provided, or the way the partners work together)? Is it targeted at RRR communities? Or does it meet a legal need that would not otherwise have been met?
• The success of the partnership in delivering services to a particular community. To what extent has the partnership led to the better delivery of services to members of the community?
• The duration of the partnership. How long has the partnership been in place?
• Two referees are required who can demonstrate/comment on the partnership.

The Centre encourages all those with an interest in the pro bono community to nominate noteworthy partnerships. More information about the Pro Bono Partnership Award and nomination forms can be found here.

Other honours for pro bono achievement at the Justice Awards include the Law Society President’s Award, the Community Legal Centres NSW Award and the Justice Medal. See here for more information and to nominate.

These awards and others will be presented at a dinner on Thursday 19 October at NSW Parliament House.