Justice Project: Pro Bono Tool
Rural, Regional and Remote (RRR) Australians

This project has been endorsed by the Law Council of Australia.

More information about this project can be found here

Priorities identified in the Justice Project Final Report


Priorities Identified in the Justice Project Final Report[i]:

  1. Ensure effective access to justice where there is market failure in RRR areas.
  2. Develop strategies to overcome conflict of interest issues precluding vulnerable people from accessing justice in RRR areas and ensure appropriate and tailored mix of services provided. 
  3. Develop analysis and policy responses regarding shortage of solicitors in RRR areas.
  4. Expand the adoption of RRR-focused curriculums in undergraduate law training.
  5. Support specialist legal assistance services to expand their reach to overcome geographic and jurisdictional barriers. 
  6. Pursue technological innovation in the delivery of legal services in a nuanced, evidence-based and people-centred way that avoids leaving digitally excluded groups behind.
  7. Increase funding to maintain and expand RRR circuit courts. 
  8. Consider the need to ensure that courts adopting specialist and/or problem-solving approaches are more readily available to RRR residents. 
  9. Policy and research development towards online courts, tribunals and dispute resolution forums should focus on:
    • the forums in which online courts or tribunals are most appropriate;
    • availability of sufficient technology to support their effective update, particularly in RRR areas;
    • advantages and disadvantages of online courts and tribunals;
    • their likely impact upon disadvantaged online court and tribunal users, having regard to their technology and legal capability; and 
    • the necessary safeguards needed to support disadvantaged users.
  10. Expand community-based sentencing options in RRR areas, including through the availability of accessible and appropriate critical support services and diversionary programs.
  11. Research and review the extent to which alternative dispute resolution is available and taken up in RRR communities, and how this might be increased in the future. 
  12. Expand support services which are lacking in many RRR communities, including interpreters, access to stable, secure housing options, bail accommodation and support, alcohol and rehabilitation services, counselling and mental health services and family violence support services. 
  13. Adopt law and policy reform processes which better ensure that the social impact of laws and policies on RRR populations are better measured, evaluated and anticipated. 
  14. Resource bodies which conduct research and/or advocate on RRR law and policy issues commensurate with other sectors. 
  15. Develop and promote strategies to build awareness of RRR legal needs and issues. 

Justice Project: Pro Bono Tool Summaries

National

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

New South Wales (NSW)

Pro bono providers are encouraged to contact the Pro Bono Referral Schemes and Organisations to source pro bono matters. In New South Wales,  please contact Justice Connect

Northern Territory (NT)

Queensland (QLD)

Pro bono providers are encouraged to contact the Pro Bono Referral Schemes and Organisations to source pro bono matters. In Queensland,  please contact LawRight

South Australia (SA)

Pro bono providers are encouraged to contact the Pro Bono Referral Schemes and Organisations to source pro bono matters. In South Australia,  please contact JusticeNet SA

Tasmania (TAS)

Victoria (VIC)

Pro bono providers are encouraged to contact the Pro Bono Referral Schemes and Organisations to source pro bono matters. In Victoria,  please contact Justice Connect

Western Australia (WA)

Pro bono providers are encouraged to contact the Pro Bono Referral Schemes and Organisations to source pro bono matters. In Western Australia,  please contact Law Access

[i] The Justice Project Final Report published by the Law Council of Australia (Aug 2018) can be found here.

Please note the Centre undertook the research to identify which priorities have been mapped to individual organisations. Not all organisations have confirmed yet whether the identified priorities are accurately mapped.