Australian Pro Bono
Manual
A ‘how to’ and ‘best practice’ guide on establishing and operating a pro bono program within a law firm.
Pro Bono Legal Work: A guide for government lawyers
We’ve created this free resource especially for government lawyers, to equip you for pro bono legal work. Appendices include two examples of Pro Bono Policies.
What is Best Practice in Pro Bono?
Guide to best practice in the provision of pro bono legal services by large and mid-size law firms in Australia. The guide is supported by examples of best practice from individual firms and also quantitative data so as to provide benchmarks and to illustrate the Australian context.
- View the full Best Practice Guide
- View the abbreviated Best Practice Guide
A Guide to Recruiting, Retaining and Remunerating Pro Bono Roles in Large Law Firms
Through the Global Pro Bono Hub, DLA Piper and the Australian Pro Bono Centre have collaborated on the release of a new joint publication, A Guide to Recruiting, Retaining and Remunerating Pro Bono Roles in Large Law Firms. Read the publication here.
Measuring Impact Hub: Evaluation & Theory of Change
We created the Measuring Impact Hub to equip all members of the pro bono community with tools and resources to measure the impact of pro bono work that is undertaken. Th hub contains useful links to materials about Evaluation Tools and Theory of Change.
Working with First Nations Clients: Best Practice Approaches to Providing Pro Bono Legal Services
This practical, reflective Guide supports lawyers and firms to build culturally safe legal practices, grounded in respect, trust and self-determination.
National Law Firm Pro Bono Survey Reports
Reports on the Centre’s biennial National Law Firm Survey of Australian law firms with 50 or more full-time equivalent lawyers. The Centre conducts the survey in order to develop a longitudinal picture of the pro bono legal work of large law firms.
Pro Bono Partnerships & Models: A Practical Guide to What Works
The Manual’s companion publication contains practical information on what works well in collaborative pro bono projects, provides tips and case studies on how to attract pro bono partners and maintain effective partnerships. A second edition of What Works was released in October 2016.
Pro Bono Legal Work: A guide for in-house corporate lawyers
We’ve created this free resource especially for in-house corporate lawyers, to equip you for pro bono legal work. Appendices include precedents that can be modified to suit your needs.
For use by corporations in the engagement of law firms
View the Template Pro Bono Questions for Use by Corporations in the Engagement of Law Firms.
Client management and self-care - a guide for pro bono lawyers
The Guide has had substantial input from the legal assistance sector, other law firms and experts in mental health. It is designed to be tailored by firms to meet training requirements for lawyers participating in pro bono work, and adapted for broader implementation across the legal assistance sector.
Sourcing Pro Bono Opportunities Initiative
Click here for resources to help source potential pro bono opportunities according to specialisation, location, type of work and availability of culture competence or trauma informed training.
Pro Bono Emeritus: A Guide for Retired Lawyers
The guide provides a structured framework to support retired and semi-retired Australian lawyers to engage in pro bono legal work.
Other Resources
See various other resources including articles, guides, and speeches.
Climate Portal + Guide: Our Climate Initiative
This guide illustrates the many different ways that lawyers can undertake pro bono work to tackle the global climate crisis.
Student Pro Bono Guide
Find out how you can volunteer as a law student and participate in pro bono legal work after graduation.
Report on the Nature and Prevalence of Pro Bono Partner Roles Globally
This report is a joint initiative of DLA Piper, the Australian Pro Bono Centre, the Pro Bono Institute in Washington DC and the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Pro Bono Guide for Individual Lawyers
This guide lists a wide range of opportunities available to lawyers wishing to donate pro bono time in a personal capacity.
Best practice pro bono responses to natural disasters
The Centre’s report, Pro Bono Response to Natural Disasters, synthesises insights from 34 organisations across Australia, including legal aid commissions, community legal centres, referral schemes and law firms into 27 key national recommendations on pro bono best practice in this context.
Reports on the National Pro Bono Target
The National Pro Bono Target is a voluntary and aspirational target of at least 35 hours of pro bono legal services per lawyer per year that can be signed up to by law firms, incorporated legal practices, individual solicitors, individual barristers; and barristers’ chambers.
News, Media and Events
The Centre’s key news publications, podcasts and videos, media releases, and more.
The Centre’s publications, except for the Australian Pro Bono Manual, are produced under a Creative Commons License. This means you can copy, transmit and adapt the Centre’s publications providing that you give proper credit to the Centre and any other relevant author within the reproduced material. Material may not be reproduced for sale purposes without the prior written agreement of the Centre or other relevant author/s.