Submissions
The following are submissions made by the National Pro Bono Resource Centre:
Submission to the Senate Standing Committe on Legal and Constitutional Affairs Inquiry into the impact of Federal Court fee increases since 2010 on access to justice in Australia.
- April 2013 (PDF 376KB)
The Centre was invited to submit to this inquiry and argues the case for adding a further exempt fee category to the current Federal Court rules, “those that are being acted for on a pro bono basis”.
Follow-up submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission on Consultation Paper 13: Inquiry into Security for Costs and Associated Orders
- September 2012 (PDF 421KB)
This is a submission provided to the NSW Law Reform Commission in response to an email requesting further information on a number of issues raised in the Centre's 2011 submission (see below).
Submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission on Consultation Paper 13: Inquiry into Security for Costs and Associated Orders
- August 2011 (PDF 265KB)
This submission in response to Consultation Paper 13 identifies the key issues in the current legislative framework pertaining to costs orders in public interest and pro bono matters, and makes recommendations for legislative change. It refers to the preliminary submission made by the Centre in February 2011 (see below).
Submission to Treasury on the Scoping Study for a National Not-For-Profit Regulator
- February 2011 (PDF 128KB)
This submission supports reforms to simplify the regulation of not-for-profit organisations (NFP), on the basis that it would free up significant pro bono legal assistance resources which are currently directed towards assisting NFPs with matters such as their applications for deductible gift recipient status. The Centre submits that these resources could be redirected to address other unmet legal needs.
Submission to the National Legal Profession Reform Taskforce
- August 2010 (PDF 572KB)
The Centre's third submission to the Taskforce relates to the Legal Profession National Law 14 May 2010 Consultation Draft and how had it has addressed concerns we have raised regarding structural barriers that exist in relation to facilitating Australian legal practitioners to undertake pro bono legal work.
Preliminary Submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission on Security for Costs and Associated Orders
- February 2010 (PDF 215KB)
This preliminary submission identifies the key issues in the current legislative framework pertaining to costs orders in public interest and pro bono matters, and makes recommendations for legislative change.
Submission to the Task Force on the National Legal Profession Project
- October 2009
This joint submission on the proposed national reform of the legal profession identifies the key legislative and regulatory barriers faced by Australian legal practiioners wanting to undertake pro bono legal work, particularly in relation to the availability and cost of practising certificates, and professional indemnity insurance.
Senate Inquiry on Access to Justice
Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry into Access to Justice.
- April 2009 (PDF 223KB)
This submission addresses the ability of people to access legal representation, the adequacy of legal aid, the cost of delivering justice, the adequacy of funding and resource arrangements for community legal centres, and the ability of Indigenous people to access justice. It discusses the amount of pro bono work that is undertaken, outlines some of the ways in which pro bono provides individuals with access to justice, and points to some of the gaps and limitations in the provision of pro bono services.
Commonwealth's Green Paper "Which Way Home" A new approach to homelessness
Submission to Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
- 16 June 2008 (PDF 227KB)
This submission provides an overview of the remarkable work done by private lawyers in Homless Persons Legal Clinics in 4 states of Australia and makes recommendations for supporting and exapanding these activities.
Submission to the Victorian Legal Services Board
- 16 January 2008 (PDF 68KB)
The submission addresses the changes to the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Rules proposed by the Law Institute of Victoria and the Victorian Bar. The submission proposes that the definition of ‘CPD activity’ contained in the CPD rules should be broadened to include pro bono legal work. It further submits that any legal practitioner who undertakes at least two hours of pro bono legal work per year should be able to claim one CPD unit for this activity.
Submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services
- September 2005 (PDF 230KB)
The submission discusses pro bono and other voluntary contributions that the legal profession currently makes.
Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committe
- April 2005 (PDF 294KB)
The Centre was invited to make submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee into the Migration Litigation Reform Bill 2005.The submission emphasises that the proposed reforms have a real potential to act as a strong deterrent for members of the legal profession to undertake pro bono work in this difficult area of law.
Submission to the Joint Commonwealth/State Review
- December 2004 (PDF 230KB)
The Centre submitted that there is a need for greater coordination between CLCs and pro bono service providers, and to raise awareness of the opportunities that exist to work together.
Submission to the LIV Government Lawyers Committee
- May 2004 (PDF 124KB)
This submission to the Government Lawyers Committee of the Law Institute of Victoria suggests that developing and supporting pro bono work by government lawyers and agencies should be part of the role and functions of the Committee.
Submission to the Federal Attorney-General's Department
- April 2004 (PDF 292KB)
This submission comments on a number of the recommendations in the Strategy Paper and makes suggestions for additional action by government in a range of pro bono related areas.
Submission to the Federal Attorney-General's Department
- April 2004 (PDF 100KB)
This submission recommends the Directions be amended to incorporate all aspects of the Protocol developed by the Centre to deal with the problem of perceived commercial conflict of interest deterring lawyers from taking on pro bono work against government.
Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committe
- October 2003 (PDF 192KB)
The Centre’s submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee Inquiry into Legal Aid and Access to Justice. Comments on pro bono service delivery as a mechanism for facilitating access to justice for low income and disadvantaged people. Terms of Reference and Submissions to the Inquiry can be found by clicking here.
Submission to the Federal Court of Australia
- April 2003 (PDF 116KB)
At the request of the Federal Court, the Centre has commented on a proposed rule change. The possible rule is designed to ensure that the Court knows the identity of a legal practitioner who has prepared a document used in Court proceedings by an otherwise unrepresented litigant.
Submission to the Victorian Attorney-General
- December 2002 (PDF 28KB)
The Centre’s submission deals with the definition of pro bono for the purposes of the scheme and the extent to which pro bono work undertaken by Victorian practitioners for clients/communities outside Victoria should be credited for the purposes of the Victorian Government’s scheme.
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