Clayton Utz is a leader of Australian law firms in Pro Bono practice and Social Responsibility programs.
We were the first national firm to employ a Pro Bono Director (1997), to appoint a Pro Bono Partner (2005), to promote a Pro Bono Senior Associate (2006) and were a Foundation Signatory to the National Aspirational Pro Bono Target.
Since we established our Pro Bono practice in 1997, our lawyers have completed over 400,000 hours of pro bono legal work. That's the equivalent of 220 lawyers working full-time on pro bono matters for a year. Today, our Pro Bono practice represents more than 3% of the firm's total legal work.
Clayton Utz adopted a Corporate Citizenship Policy in 2002 and established the Clayton Utz Foundation in 2003 as the first ever Private Ancillary Fund at an Australian law firm. We launched our Reconciliation Action Plan in March 2010, and in 2011 became a foundation member of the Australian Legal Sector Alliance to promote sustainable practices across the profession.
Our Social Responsibility programs are our:
(a) community involvement through Community Connect;
(b) financial support through the Clayton Utz Foundation;
(c) indigenous support under the Reconciliation Action Plan; and
(d) environmental initiatives.
The Clayton Utz Foundation provides financial support to charities where our partners and employees are already giving pro bono or volunteering support through a Clayton Utz program or in their own time. Since its establishment, the Foundation has made over $5.3 million in grants.
Our partners and employees also volunteer time and co-ordinate resources to assist community organisations through our Community Connect community involvement program. From three community partners in 2003, we now have relationships with over 25 community organisations across the country.
Please visit the Annual Review 2012 to learn more about our social responsibility achievements.
