Pro Bono

Our pro bono practice embraces our ethical responsibility to help increase access to justice and assist people who otherwise could not access the legal system.

We work with not-for-profit community groups, individuals, charities and community partners on law reform to better protect human rights in Australia. People we assist include people with a disability, refugees and asylum seekers, victims of wage theft, people who are homeless, older persons and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

We are a signatory to the National Pro Bono Target, committing to undertake at least 35 hours per lawyer per year of pro bono work.

Some key human rights issues we support include:  

• the right to education 
• the right to employment
• freedom from discrimination 
• the right to food and housing 
• the right to social security 
• the right to seek and enjoy asylum 
• the right to self-determination
• freedom from slavery.

Our Pro Bono Practice is managed by Partner Nathan Kennedy. The Pro Bono & Community Committee comprises representatives from all areas of the firm, including legal professionals and corporate services.

The committee considers requests for pro bono legal assistance that are referred by organisations and our people. Organisations we’ve worked with include:

As part of International Day of People with Disability, we have published a report outlining how we help provide access to justice to all. We encourage you to read our report.

In celebration of Indigenous Business Month, we would like to acknowledge the First Nations businesses we work with. Read our update for more details.

On World Refugee Day, we celebrate the courage and resilience of people who have fled their countries to seek safety from persecution. We have prepared this report as a snapshot of our work in this area and to acknowledge the work of organisations such as the Refugee Advice & Casework Service, Refugee Legal and Afghan Women on the Move.

We have prepared a Human Rights Day report to share some of our clients' stories to showcase how access to justice can be a key enabler of human rights protection.

To recognise and celebrate Pride Month (June), we have released our Pride and Pro Bono Report. As we look to the future of LGBTQIA+ equality in Australia, we write this report to remember where we have come from and reflect on the progress made so far and what’s to come.

Elder Abuse is one of the key areas of focus for our national Pro Bono & Community practice. Find out more about how we have assisted older persons.