Legal Help for Not-For-Profit Organisations
The legal needs of not-for-profit organisations, which can include governance, taxation, and employment law issues, are well matched with the expertise and experience of corporate law firms that undertake pro bono work.
In the Centre’s 2022 Report from the Biennial Pro Bono Survey of Australian large law firms, we reported that:
Some large firms focus a significant proportion of their pro bono work on directly assisting disadvantaged individuals. Others focus on assisting not-for-profits or mission-based organisations whose core business is assisting people in need or furthering the public interest. Assisting organisations encourages broad and deep participation in pro bono by creating opportunities for lawyers in large firms to apply their existing commercial legal skills on a pro bono basis.
8th Biennial Pro Bono Survey: Final Report, page 41
In the 2022 financial year, large firms who responded to the Survey undertook on average 56% of their pro bono work for charities, other not-for-profit organisations, and social enterprises.
What pro bono advice, assistance and information is available?
Justice Connect’s Not-for-profit Law program is a national legal service, offering free and affordable legal supports for not-for-profit organisations.
Eligible organisations may be able to receive free legal advice from lawyers within the Not-for-profit Law team who have specialised knowledge of the social sector or via a referral to a law firm that will provide the advice on a pro bono basis. Making an online application is the quickest and easiest way to find out if your organisation is eligible.
Not-for-profit Law has an extensive library of 300+ self-help resources for community organisations, as well as free and low-cost webinars and customised legal training for not-for-profit organisations.
You can also find more detailed information below on legal help for not-for-profit organisations, depending on your needs:
- Help establishing a not-for-profit organisation
- Legal assistance for your not-for-profit organisation
- Help referring a client for legal assistance
- Help with a pro bono partnership or project
- Help finding suitable volunteers with legal experience
- More information
Please note that the Australian Pro Bono Centre is the national centre of leadership for pro bono legal services. We do not provide legal assistance or operate a referral scheme.
I am looking for help with establishing a not-for-profit organisation
- A Pro Bono Referral Scheme or Organisation may be able to connect you to appropriate pro bono assistance.
- Visit the Justice Connect Not-for-profit Law website for a wealth of information about the legal issues to consider when establishing a not-for-profit organisation.
I am looking for legal assistance for my organisation
- The Not-for-profit Law Service can assist established not-for-profit organisations with telephone advice, pro bono referrals and training.
- A Pro Bono Referral Scheme or Organisation may be able to connect you to appropriate pro bono assistance.
- The Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) website provides information about starting and running an Indigenous Corporation. ORIC’s LawHelp service can also refer established Indigenous Corporations to pro bono assistance.
I am looking to refer an individual for legal assistance
- You can provide clients with a link to our Links to Legal Help page, which lists various organisations that may be able to assist them.
- A Pro Bono Referral Scheme or Organisation may be able to assist you to refer an individual to appropriate pro bono assistance.
I am looking for help with a pro bono project or pro bono partnership
- Our publication Pro Bono Partnerships and Models: A Practical Guide to What Works contains practical information on what works well in collaborative pro bono projects, including tips and case studies on how to attract pro bono partners and maintain effective partnerships.
- A Pro Bono Referral Scheme or Organisation may be able to assist with brokering pro bono relationships.
I am looking for help with finding suitable volunteers
- You can advertise legal volunteer (and paid) opportunities at your organisation on the Centre’s Social Justice Opportunities website, Facebook page and X feed. This is a free service.
Where can I find more information?
For general information about how pro bono can assist your organisation:
- Refer to our publication Pro Bono Partnerships and Models: A Practical Guide to What Works for practical tips on creating successful partnerships between not-for-profit organisations and law firms, with examples
- Contact us
- Contact a Pro Bono Referral Scheme or Organisation in your state or territory.
Page last updated July 2024.