National Pro Bono Day and
Walk for Justice 2014

The Walk for Justice this year was another stunning success, with the legal community in NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria raising well over $120,000 for JusticeNet SA, Justice Connect and QPILCH.

On National Pro Bono Day, 13 May 2014, more than 2,000 people walked in Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns Mackay, Melbourne, Newcastle, the Sunshine Coast, Sydney and Townsville.

In its seventh year the Walk for Justice continues to succeed as not only a significant fundraiser for the work of pro bono referral organisations, with funds raised that can be earmarked for projects that may otherwise struggle to find funding, but also as a chance for the legal community to come together and celebrate the work of the sector.

Over $50,000 was raised in Queensland by 900+ walkers, with a large proportion of funds going to the QPILCH disbursement fund. Congratulations go to North Quarter Lane Chambers, Clayton Utz, Carbolic Group Chambers and Bernadette Farnell, who were the highest fundraisers for the Queensland Legal Walk, and to Ashurst, QUT, the Queensland Courts, Herbert Smith Freehills, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, the Queensland Attorney-General’s Department and Queensland Law Society, who fielded the largest teams.

In South Australia the Walk was opened by the South Australian Attorney-General, the Honourable John Rau. Nearly $42,000 was raised for JusticeNet SA, with Chief Justice Kourakis presenting the Walk for Justice Cup to Lipman Karas, who raised $6,965 as a team, and an iPad mini to Katrina Bochner, who was the highest individual fundraiser ($1,945).

More than 900 people registered to take part in the Walk for Justice in Victoria and New South Wales. The Walk in NSW highlighted Justice Connect’s MOSAIC service, and in Melbourne focussed attention on the Homeless Law program. Minter Ellison fielded the largest team in Sydney (33 staff) and Arnold Bloch Leibler and the University of Melbourne Law School (72 students) were the leaders in Melbourne.