Issue 103: October 2015
Welcome to the October 2015 issue of AUSTRALIAN PRO BONO NEWS, the Centre’s monthly newsletter providing stories and articles of interest to the Australian pro bono community.
As always, we welcome your feedback/contributions/ideas – please email info@probonocentre.org.au.
For past issues, visit our Australian Pro Bono News page.
With the Australian Government recently announcing a $100 million package of measures to provide a safety net for women and children at high risk of experiencing violence, and calling on the public to elevate this issue to our national consciousness, it is timely to reflect on the pro bono legal work that has been undertaken over the years to address this area of need, and ask what more can be done.
Some firms have been working in this area for well over ten years. Most of the pro bono legal work has been undertaken either by:
- assisting an applicant to seek a Family Violence Order,
- seeking victims compensation, or;
- providing legal support for organisations such as women’s refuges and other service providers.
Legal help has also been provided with related issues of tenancy, migration, crime and child protection, and supporting the organisations that are on the front line of domestic violence matters.
In October 2013 the Centre reported on Pro Bono Legal Services in Family Law and Family Violence: Understanding the Limitations and Opportunities, focusing on pro bono work in these areas of law, profiling innovative programs and describing the the unique challenges faced.
We know some of the stories but would like to invite readers to tell us more. We will endeavour over the coming months to reflect and capture these in forthcoming editions of the Australian Pro Bono News. We encourage you to send contributions to info@probonocentre.org.au.
To begin this conversation, this edition starts with a profile of Russell Kennedy’s pro bono work to help victims of family violence.
In this edition, you can also read about:
Subscribe to AUSTRALIAN PRO BONO NEWS
Issue 103: October 2015
Welcome to the October 2015 issue of AUSTRALIAN PRO BONO NEWS, the Centre’s monthly newsletter providing stories and articles of interest to the Australian pro bono community.
As always, we welcome your feedback – please email info@probonocentre.org.au.
For past issues, visit our Australian Pro Bono News page.
With the Australian Government recently announcing a $100 million package of measures to provide a safety net for women and children at high risk of experiencing violence, and calling on the public to elevate this issue to our national consciousness, it is timely to reflect on the pro bono legal work that has been undertaken over the years to address this area of need, and ask what more can be done.
Some firms have been working in this area for well over ten years. Most of the pro bono legal work has been undertaken either by:
- assisting an applicant to seek a Family Violence Order,
- seeking victims compensation, or;
- providing legal support for organisations such as women’s refuges and other service providers.
Legal help has also been provided with related issues of tenancy, migration, crime and child protection, and supporting the organisations that are on the front line of domestic violence matters.
In October 2013 the Centre reported on Pro Bono Legal Services in Family Law and Family Violence: Understanding the Limitations and Opportunities, focusing on pro bono work in these areas of law, profiling innovative programs and describing the the unique challenges faced.
We know some of the stories but would like to invite readers to tell us more. We will endeavour over the coming months to reflect and capture these in forthcoming editions of the Australian Pro Bono News. We encourage you to send contributions to info@probonocentre.org.au.
To begin this conversation, this edition starts with a profile of Russell Kennedy’s pro bono work to help victims of family violence.
Russell Kennedy’s work to help victims of family violence – a case study
A key focus of Russell Kennedy’s pro bono work is in providing services that strengthen the capability of lawyers and community sector workers to support women and children affected by family violence.
Target continues to drive pro bono performance
The Eighth Annual Performance Report on the National Pro Bono Aspirational Target shows that the Target’s influence as a tool to drive pro bono performance continues to grow.
Hours continue to increase under the National Pro Bono PI Insurance Scheme
From 1 January 2015 to 30 June 2015, 93 lawyers and 8 paralegals undertook 60 projects under the National Pro Bono PI Insurance Scheme, reporting 953.4 hours of pro bono legal work during the period.
Expressions of interest – What Works
The Centre is seeking new examples of pro bono partnerships for its upcoming reissue of "Pro bono Partnerships and Models: a Practical Guide to What Works."
NSW government facilitates pro bono through Expert Advice Exchange
The NSW government is now considering the applications received as part of the second round of the Expert Advice Exchange.
The catalytic Asian pro bono movement continues in Myanmar
The 4th Asia Pro Bono Conference and Legal Ethics Workshop held recently in Myanmar continues its legacy of a strengthened local legal profession and pro bono culture in its wake.
The Hon. Murray Gleason AC QC to speak at the Salvos Legal Lecture Series
The upcoming Salvos Legal Lecture Series, brought to you by Salvos Legal and the Australian Pro Bono Centre, will be held in Sydney on Saturday, 14 November 2015.
Anabel Morales, one of the Centre’s new interns
Anabel Morales is interning at the Centre through the UNSW School of Law Social Justice Internship Program, and comes to us with extensive experience in the NSW public sector.
Who do you use for your design, printing and website work?
Looking for a socially responsible organisation to do your design, printing and website work? Look no further.
By the Numbers: National Pro Bono Aspirational Target
Only 12% of large law firms regularly rotate graduates through their formal pro bono practices, according to the most recent National Law Firm Pro Bono Survey of Australian firms with 50 or more lawyers.
PRO BONO IN THE NEWS: September – October 2015
Links to 40 stories of interest to the pro bono legal community that you may have missed. You can also stay up to date on the latest pro bono news by following the Centre's Twitter feed @AusPBC.