About us

The Centre opened its doors at UNSW in August 2002.  Its establishement was recommended by the National Pro Bono Task Force to the Commonwealth Attorney-General in its report dated 14 June 2001. The Centre is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee. Details of the Board, Advisory Council and staff can be found by clicking on the sub menus on the left.

The Centre is an independent, non profit organisation that aims to:

• encourage pro bono legal services,
• support lawyers and law firms to make it easier for them to provide high quality pro bono legal services, and
• work with the profession and the community sector to match services with the clients and groups most in need of assistance.

The Centre receives financial assistance from the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department, the State and Territory Attorney-Generals and the Faculty of Law at the University of New South Wales.

The Centre is not able to refer individuals to lawyers for help with a legal problem (see ‘How to find legal help’). The Centre promotes and supports pro bono through its independent role as advocate, broker, coordinator, researcher and resource provider.

Details of the Centre’s publications and current activities are available on this site.

In planning its activities the Centre has drawn on recommendations and reports prepared by others, in particular the National Pro Bono Task Force Report. The Centre has established an Advisory Council and consults widely with the legal profession, community sector, and other relevant people. The Centre welcomes feedback on its plans and activities. Please email feedback@nationalprobono.org.au.

Strategic Plan 2005-2009

The Centre’s Strategic Plan for 2005-2009 was finalised in September 2005. The plan was the result of an extensive consultation process with stakeholders in the community as well as the Centre’s Advisory Council.

The Centre has adopted the following principles in relation to pro bono services:

• pro bono should operate to complement and not be a substitute for properly funded government funded legal services.
• the planning, design and provision of pro bono services should be determined by reference to the needs of socially and/or economically disadvantaged people.
• pro bono work should always be done to the same standards of attention, priority and professional performance as feepaying work
• pro bono practice is a voluntary activity.
• Government has a vital role in encouraging, supporting and facilitating pro bono initiatives.

The full plan (4 pages) is available by clicking here.  

Pro Bono Legal Services

‘Pro bono’ legal services are provided free to clients who cannot afford the legal assistance that they need. Many kinds of legal services can be provided pro bono. They include:

• legal advice,
• court representation,
• legal assistance to non profit organisations,
• community legal education,
• submissions to government on matters of public interest (law reform),
• other legal work, including drafting documents.

Pro bono legal services are one way in which individuals, community organisations and social groups can increase their access to justice. Pro bono services support and extend the legal services provided by legal aid commissions and community legal centres.

The expression ‘pro bono’ comes from the Latin phrase ‘pro bono publico’ meaning ‘for the public good’. While most lawyers who undertake pro bono in Australia contribute their time at no cost to the client, many definitions of pro bono include work which while not free is done at a substantially reduced fee.

National Pro Bono Resource Centre Email: info@nationalprobono.org.au Telephone:  +61 2 9385 7381     Fax: +61 2 9385 7375