Issue 129: July 2018
Welcome to the July 2018 issue of AUSTRALIAN PRO BONO NEWS, the Centre’s monthly newsletter providing stories and articles of interest to the Australian pro bono community.
We welcome your feedback, submissions and ideas for both Australian Pro Bono News and our website – please email [email protected] or refer to our Contact page.
For past issues, visit our newsletter Archive.
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Editorial
Thanks to all who participated in the review of the National Pro Bono Target. It was a very worthwhile exercise and we look forward to facilitating more discussions on key policy issues in the pro bono community, particularly at the National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference to be held in Canberra on 14-15 March 2019 but earlier if there is interest. Please don’t hesitate to raise issues that might benefit from discussion.
Congratulations to Hannah Rose and Stephen Somerville on their appointments as of 1 July (see Pro bono promotions, July 2018). This brings the number of firms with more than 50 lawyers with at least one full-time pro bono partner to seven, with another 12 firms having a pro bono partner who also carries a commercial workload. Pro bono coordinators who are partners tell us the importance of being at partnership meetings to strengthen the pro bono culture within their firm, and to obtain partner support for the strategic direction of the firm’s pro bono practice.
We hope you enjoy the stories on pro bono helping children living with disability, mentoring younger lawyers, and the launch of national peak body, Elder Abuse Action Australia, that heralds a stronger network of organisations addressing elder abuse around Australia, providing further opportunities for law firms to assist with this work.
John Corker
CEO
Subscribe to AUSTRALIAN PRO BONO NEWS
Issue 129: July 2018
Welcome to the July 2018 issue of AUSTRALIAN PRO BONO NEWS, the Centre’s monthly newsletter providing stories and articles of interest to the Australian pro bono community.
We welcome your feedback, submissions and ideas for both Australian Pro Bono News and our website – please email [email protected] or refer to our Contact page.
For past issues, visit our Archives page.
*
Editorial
Thanks to all who participated in the review of the National Pro Bono Target. It was a very worthwhile exercise and we look forward to facilitating more discussions on key policy issues in the pro bono community, particularly at the National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference to be held in Canberra on 14-15 March 2019 but earlier if there is interest. Please don’t hesitate to raise issues that might benefit from discussion.
Congratulations to Hannah Rose and Stephen Somerville on their appointments as of 1 July (see Pro bono promotions, July 2018). This brings the number of firms with more than 50 lawyers with at least one full-time pro bono partner to seven, with another 12 firms having a pro bono partner who also carries a commercial workload. Pro bono coordinators who are partners tell us the importance of being at partnership meetings to strengthen the pro bono culture within their firm, and to obtain partner support for the strategic direction of the firm’s pro bono practice.
We hope you enjoy the stories on pro bono helping children living with disability, mentoring younger lawyers, and the launch of national peak body, Elder Abuse Action Australia, that heralds a stronger network of organisations addressing elder abuse around Australia, providing further opportunities for law firms to assist with this work.
John Corker
CEO
National Pro Bono Target remains at 35 hours per lawyer per annum but now includes work for social enterprises
The final report of the tenth anniversary review of the National Pro Bono Target (as it will now be called) was released last week concluding a year-long consultation process with members of the Target signatory community. Changes to the Target took effect on 1 July 2018.
Pro bono promotions, July 2018
With the turn of the financial year, we’re pleased to congratulate pro bono coordinators Hannah Rose and Stephen Somerville on their much-deserved promotions. Hannah has made partner at Sparke Helmore Lawyers, while Stephen has been elevated to Senior Associate, Pro Bono at Herbert Smith Freehills.
Using pro bono to champion the rights of children living with disability
The “ground breaking” Improving Educational Outcomes for Children with Disability in Victoria report was launched last Friday. Here’s how pro bono legal assistance from law firm Colin Biggers & Paisley contributed to this important work.
Protecting Older Australians From Elder Abuse: what the 2018 Federal Budget provides and what pro bono can contribute
Senior Australians are set to benefit from the 2018 Federal Budget, with $22 million dedicated towards protecting them from elder abuse and the official launch of new national peak body, Elder Abuse Action Australia. In this article, we give you the run-down on the new measures and highlight where pro bono legal work can make a meaningful contribution to improving access to justice in this space.
Q&A with Nesha Balasubramanian, DLA Piper Australia
Have you met Nesha? She’s the Australia Pro Bono Associate at DLA Piper (full-time since January), and we asked her about how she sees her role and what pro bono looks like at her firm. Read the Q&A here.
Q&A with Nikki Pace, eBay Australia
Pro bono legal work isn’t just for law firms and barristers – in-house corporate counsel are increasingly active in this space and we were encouraged to hear from Nikki Pace from eBay about how she’s involved in partnering with Corrs Chambers Westgarth to provide pro bono legal assistance to not-for-profit ReachOut.
Pro bono as a mentoring opportunity
Rural Women’s Outreach Legal Service, Queensland provides young CLC lawyer Brenton Day opportunity to work alongside pro bono barrister Stephen Colditz. Read his story here.
