We recognise the role private law can have in advancing the principle that everyone should have access to legal advice and as lawyers we should be working towards addressing equality.

In 2021, we developed a stand-alone pro bono practice that nationalised our pro bono commitment and marked a significant increase in results. Managing Principal, Richard Wood, noted “In 2023 our lawyers exceeded the National Pro Bono Target with average pro bono hours above 50 hours per, year per lawyer. These results are a reflection of the firm’s commitment to meeting our professional responsibility to address unmet legal need.”  

Both our Pro Bono Policy and Pro Bono Values Statement reflects a practice focused on ethics and addressing the inherent complexities of private organisations responding to social unfairness. This approach has formalised over time with our Pro Bono Principal Jilly Field graduating from a Fellowship in Ethics (Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership). You can read more about our ethics approach at here and here.

We collaborate with Legal Outreach Clinics to support individuals who are experiencing financial insecurity and various intersecting disadvantages. Clinics include the Baptist Care Homeless Legal Clinic, Adelaide; Mental Health Legal Tribunal, Victoria; Marrickville Legal Centre, Sydney and Western Sydney Community Legal Centre Employment Law Clinic, Sydney.

Our key pro bono program is based on systemic reform support which sees our lawyers developing background research and legal analysis for front line community legal centres, not for profits and public interest organisations. We recognise the essential contribution front line organisations make in identifying and addressing systemic injustice and we are committed to supporting their legal and policy responses.

We have written extensively on various matters including coercive control, domestic violence, economic abuse, access to justice issues in family law, impoverishment and rights for transgender communities.

Our commercial teams have provided pro bono representation and advice to individuals and organisations in various matters including unfair evictions, elder abuse, employment litigation and corporate disputes.

Principal, Jilly Field, leads our pro bono practice. Jilly is on the board of Women’s Legal NSW, Community Legal Centres NSW and Transcend Australia. After finishing her term on the Wear it Purple Board in 2022, Jilly remains an advocacy advisor. Jilly was awarded Lawyers Weekly Pro Bono Partner of the Year 2023.

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