Welcome to the December 2009 edition of the e-Newsletter of the National Pro Bono Resource Centre (the Centre). We welcome your feedback/contributions/ideas. In this edition, read about:

1. Senate Access to Justice Report commends private lawyers for their pro bono work, supports Target and calls for proper resourcing of legal aid 
2. National Pro Bono Day and the Walk for Justice to be held on Monday 17 May 2010
3. 3rd National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference to be held in Brisbane on 27/28 August 2010 
4. Research on Aboriginal Legal Need in NSW now available
5. In the News – May 2009

Senate Access to Justice Report commends private lawyers

The Report of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee on Access to Justice was released on 8 December 2009.  The Committee commended those members of the private legal profession who undertake pro bono legal work, accepted that the legal aid system is not adequately funded and recommends a review of existing funding arrangements and service delivery levels including an increase in funding for legal aid service providers particularly in RRR areas.

The Committee recommends that state/territory governments and legal professional associations throughout Australia should take such steps as are necessary to support pro bono development including promoting the National Pro Bono Aspirational Target Scheme.

The Centre was unfortunately misquoted in the report as suggesting that all classes of practising certificate should have a mandatory pro bono legal requirement. The Centre did not say this and does not support this recommendation.  The Committee has published the Centre’s letter to this effect on its website.

The Committee also recommended that the Australian Government investigate means by which small to medium size firms could be encouraged to further participate in the provision of pro bono legal services.

The full report can be accessed here.

National Pro Bono Day and the Walk for Justice to be held on Monday 17 May 2010

Monday 17 May 2010 will be National Pro Bono Day, the first day of National Law Week 2010. 

The centrepiece of this day will be the Walk for Justice (“WALK”) now in its third year is confirmed to take place in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide (so far).   The WALK is a 3-5 km walk past key city legal landmarks which aims to raise awareness of unmet legal need in the community and raise funds to support the work of the pro bono clearing houses in each State and Territory. 

It is an initiative of the Public Interest Law Clearing Houses of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland and the National Pro Bono Resource Centre.  As before registration occurs through each state based pro bono clearing house.

National Pro Bono Day 2010 will celebrate the outstanding pro bono commitment of the legal profession in ensuring access to justice for marginalised and disadvantaged Australians.  Members of the profession are encouraged to mark this day by walking for justice and developing other activities to celebrate the profession’s pro bono contribution

3rd National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference to be held in Brisbane on 27/28 August 2010

The theme for this year’s conference is “Access to Justice at the Crossroads – Where to Now?” This important biennial conference brings together lawyers, policy makers, academics and law students from firms, the bar, professional associations, legal aid, community legal centres, government, universities and pro bono clearing houses to discuss how to advance access to justice and the role of pro bono legal services.Key issues to be discussed will include the case for funding the legal assistance sector, identification of gaps in legal need, and improving coordination across the sector.

Research on Aboriginal Legal Need in NSW now available

Professor Chris Cunneen from the UNSW gave a presentation on research he did for the Legal Aid Commission NSW into the Family and Civil Law Needs of Aboriginal People in NSW. The report is available online from the Legal Aid NSW website.

The report provides an analysis of the civil and family law needs of Aboriginal people in NSW and explores how Legal Aid NSW might improve the services that they provide to Aboriginal clients in the areas of civil and family law.

In the News – December 2009

Click through to read any news article in full.

• Guide to Wills and Estates goes online  A practical guide to making wills and what’s involved in changing, revoking, or challenging a will. It also covers the rights of beneficiaries and creditors to a will, probate, intestacy and what legal fees are relevant.

• The first of a series of free legal information talksfor Shepparton’s African communities will be held on Thursday 17 December at 6.

• A Senate committee has found regional Australia and Indigenous peopleare falling behind in terms of access to the justice system.

• Queensland Attorney-General Cameron Dick has congratulated 22 Legal Aid Queensland staff for a combined 290 years of service of providing access to quality legal services.

• Home owners are being thrown out of their houses> and forced to default on mortgages even though they are able to make repayments.

• People with mental illness will have access to specialised legal servicesfor the first time in NSW thanks to a new initiative by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the State Government.

• Victoria’s Attorney-General Rob Hulls is accusing the Federal Government of risking the safety of women and children by failing to increase its share of the state’s legal aid funding.

• The New South Wales Government says it needs a significant injection of funding to legal aid services from the Commonwealth because the service is in crisis.

• Joe Catanzariti…federal funding should be increasedONE in five people seeking legal aid in NSW are being turned away from a system in crisis, said the Attorney-General, John Hatzistergos.

UK and US stories

• In a speech at the National Pro Bono Conference,Lord Goldsmith QC expressed serious concern that the pro bono and voluntary advice sectors were being overwhelmed with an increasing demand for legal help during the recession, when their budgets were decreasing.

• A nationwide campaign to celebrate the range and impact of free services (pro bono) provided by lawyers, often in collaboration with other professionals also acting free, will be launched next week at the start of the eighth UK National Pro Bono Week.

• The first American Bar Association National Pro Bono Celebration week exceeded expectations and received recognition from the White House.