Pro Bono Legal Referral Schemes
Legal referral schemes are able to refer your matter to a lawyer who may take on your case pro bono (i.e. for a substantially reduced rate or free of charge). Generally the Schemes have their own selection criteria by which they decide who is deserving of pro bono assistance that usually include means and merits test and to be satisfied that legal aid is not available. Some may have guidelines and application forms available online (check the links below).
Law Clearing Houses will generally refer appropriate matters to their member organizations who have indicated an interest in undertaking pro bono matters. Members include law firms; the legal sections of corporations; or individual barristers and solicitors. Although each clearing house has its own merit-based selection criteria, in some states the matters need to satisfy a public interest criteria as well before a pro bono provider is approached to see if they can help.
Pro bono — selected referral and other schemes
The following is a list of key pro bono referral schemes and some free or reduced-fee services coordinated by legal professional associations.
| ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CORPORATIONS |
LawHelp
Office of the Registrar of Indigineous Corporations
PO Box 2029, Woden ACT 2606
Tel: 1800 622 431
LawHelp is a service started by the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) and volunteer lawyers. It gives not-for-profit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 access to legal help. It is not available for individuals.
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| AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY |
ACT Pro Bono Clearing House
c/- ACT Law Society
GPO Box 1562, Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6247 5700
Fax: (02) 6247 3754
Run by the ACT Law Society, the Clearing House will deal with public and private interest matters, subject to guidelines. By application only to the Clearing House Administrator.
The Law Society of the ACT also operates the Legal Advice Bureau that offers free lunch time legal advice from solicitors who volunteer their time on a roster basis from 12.30–2pm, Monday to Friday. Wednesday is Family Law only. By appointment only to the Law Society (02) 6247 5700.
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Means and merits tests applied. Application form and supporting documents required.
NSW Bar Association
Legal Assistance Referral Scheme
Selborne Chambers
Lower Ground Floor, 174 Phillip St,
Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: 02 9232 4055
Fax: 02 9221 1149
Email: legalassist@nswbar.asn.au
Website: www.nswbar.asn.au (go to “Legal Assistance”)
Means and merits tests applied. Application form and supporting documents required.
PILCH aims to bridge the justice gap by linking individuals and not for profit organizations with legal and other professional advisors who provide free (pro bono) assistance on important issues which would otherwise go unaddressed. PILCH staff assesses requests for legal assistance and refer matters to member barristers, law firms, universities, accountancy firms and mediators. PILCH also develops and coordinates projects which respond to unmet legal need and which address systemic issues. PILCH and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre jointly manage the Homeless Person's Legal Service, the Aboriginal Stolen Wages Project, Predatory Lending Project and the Children In Detention Project.
HPLS provides free legal assistance to, and advocacy on behalf of, people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Legal services are provided by pro bono lawyers at crisis accommodation centres and welfare agencies. Contact HPLS for more information.
Duty Lawyer Schemes
Tel: (02) 9232 4055 (Bar Association)
Duty solicitor and barrister schemes operate out of some courts and tribunals in NSW.
For example, the NSW Bar Association and the City of Sydney district of the Law Society of New South Wales operate duty solicitor and barrister schemes at the Downing Centre Local and District Courts in Sydney.
Cancer Council NSW Legal Referral Service
Tel: 13 11 20 (NSW only)
The Cancer Council of NSW operates a limited pro bono legal referral service in relation to legal matters faced by those living with cancer. This includes wills and powers of attorney, access to superannuation, mortgage hardship and other consumer credit problems, insurance, employment and immigration issues relating to access to Medicare and overseas relatives. To contact this service please contact the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20.
Northern Territory Pro Bono Clearing House
Tel: (08) 8981 5104
The Northern Territory Pro Bono Clearing House was established in November 2008. It is operated by the Access to Justice Committee of the Law Society Northern Territory. Contact the Clearing House coordinator at the Law Society for further information.
Law Society Northern Territory
GPO Box 2388, Darwin NT 0801
Tel: (08) 8981 5104
Fax: (08) 8941 1623
Currently the Law Society operates a ‘First Interview Scheme’ whereby participating law firms agree to provide a first half-hour consultation for $99. Contact the Law Society for a list of firms or access the website for further information.
Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House Incorporated (QPILCH)
PO Box 3631, South Brisbane BC QLD 4101
Ph: (07) 3846 6317
Fax: (07) 3846 6311
Email: administration@qpilch.org.au
Website: www.qpilch.org.au
QPILCH is a research, assessment and referral service, referring civil law cases with legal merit to member barristers and law firms for pro bono assistance. QPILCH also conducts direct services through its Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic, Administrative Law Clinic, Refugee Civil Law Clinic and Self-Representation Services (District and Supreme Court and QCAT).
JusticeNet SA
Ligertwood Building, The University of Adelaide, North Tce, Adelaide SA 5005
Tel: (08) 8303 5005
Fax (08) 8303 4344
JusticeNet SA facilitates access to justice for the financially disadvantaged by referring them to a network of existing legal service providers and by referring meritorious cases to a safety net of legal firms willing to assist on a pro bono basis. JusticeNet administers a referral scheme that matches eligible individuals and charitable organisations in need of legal assistance with member law firms and barristers who are willing to act on a pro bono basis (for free).
To qualify for assistance from JusticeNet, applicants must satisfy its eligibility criteria, including that:
- the client must be ineligible for assistance from existing legal services (such as legal aid and community legal centres); and
- the client must be unable to afford a private solicitor or barrister
The Law Society of South Australia (LSSA)
124 Waymouth Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Tel: (08) 8229 0222
Fax: (08) 8231 1929
The Law Society of South Australia does not have a pro bono referral scheme but co-ordinates the following reduced-fee services:
- Legal Advisory - 5.30 to 7.30 pm, Monday and Wednesday, 20 minutes costs $22 ($10 concession); and
- First Interview Scheme - participating firms provide initial advice at the rate of $33 for the first half-hour.
Adelaide Legal Outreach Service (ALOS)
212 Wright Street Adelaide SA 5000
Tel: 8303 4455
ALOS is a referral and legal advice service for people who are homeless or disadvantaged. Operates on Fridays out of the Westcare Centre, 212 Wright St, Adelaide. Run by the University of Adelaide Law School, advice and assistance is provided by law students under the supervision of volunteer lawyers.
Law Society of Tasmania's Pro Bono Clearing House
c/- Martyn Hagan
28 Murray Street
Hobart TAS 7001
Tel: (03) 6234 4133
Fax: (03) 6223 8240
The Law Society of Tasmania's Pro Bono Clearing House was launched in May 2010. The Clearing House won’t accept cases where advice could be provided through the Legal Aid commission, but will help applicants in cases which either raise a matter of broad public concern, or alternatively matters that have a reasonable prospect for success.
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Public Interest Law Clearing House (Vic) (PILCH)
17/461 Bourke Street Melbourne VIC 3000
PO Box 16013 Collins Street West 8007
Ph: (03) 8636 4400
Legal Enquiries: 03 8636 4444
Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic Freecall: 1800 606 313
Fax: (03) 8636 4455
Email: admin@pilch.org.au
Website: www.pilch.org.au
PILCH’s core business is to provide legal assistance and advocacy to marginalised and disadvantaged individuals and the community organisations that support them. It does so by matching organisations, and individuals who are ineligible for legal aid and cannot afford a lawyer, to lawyers and barristers willing to act on a pro bono basis.
PILCH coordinates its pro bono referral services via a members scheme, the Victorian Bar Pro Bono Scheme (VBPBS) and the Law Institute of Victoria Legal Assistance Scheme (LIVLAS). PILCH also operates the Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic (HPLC) and the Seniors Rights Legal Clinic (SRLC), outreach legal clinics which aim to provide culturally and socially appropriate advice and advocacy for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and seniors experiencing or at risk of elder abuse throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria. In addition, PilchConnect provides a range of legal services to Victorian not-for-profit community organisations, including telephone advice, legal referrals, a webportal and training.
Duty Barrister Scheme
Ph: (03) 9225 7111 (Victorian Bar)
Website: http://www.vicbar.com.au/news-reading-room/your-community-advocates/duty-barristers
Duty barristers are rostered to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on a daily basis, and in Dandenong on Monday each week. The Scheme also provides barristers to assist the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the County Court on an ad hoc basis. Persons seeking assistance must be referred to the Scheme via either the relevant courts or Victoria Legal Aid, and must meet the Duty Barristers Scheme Criteria. Other Courts may also have duty lawyer schemes in place - contact the relevant Court for more information.
Law Access Pro Bono Referral Scheme
4th Floor, 89 St Georges Tce Perth WA 6000
PO Box Z5345 Perth WA 6831
DX 173 Perth
Contact: Dominique Hansen
Tel: (08) 9322 7877
Fax: (08) 9322 7544
Email: lawaccess@lawsocietywa.asn.au (Information for the public - Law Access)
Web: http://www.lawsocietywa.asn.au/pro-bono-scheme/
This pro bono referral service is operated by the Law Society of WA and refers public interest as well as non-public interest matters. Public interest matters will be given priority, but matters without ‘public interest’ will still be referred to participating lawyers if means and merits tests are satisfied. Call the Law Society on (08) 9322 7877.
The Western Australian Bar Association (Inc)
Level 16, Allendale Square, 77 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000
GPO Box C122, Perth, WA 6839
Tel: (08) 9220 0532
Fax: (08) 9221 5781
Applications for pro bono assistance are to be made in writing — by letter or email for the attention of the President.
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