12 November 2008
12 November 2008: The Clayton Utz Pro Bono program has reached another significant milestone, with Clayton Utz lawyers having performed 250,000 hours of pro bono legal work since the program was formalised in 1997.
Clayton Utz Pro Bono partner David Hillard said this was the equivalent of an office of 150 lawyers representing pro bono clients full-time for a year.
Mr Hillard said the milestone reflected the firm's genuine commitment to helping to make our legal system accessible for marginalised and disadvantaged people across Australia.
"Pro bono legal work, both for people who cannot obtain Legal Aid and cannot afford legal advice or representation, and for the not-for-profit organisations which support marginalised and disadvantaged people, is a fundamental part of being a lawyer at Clayton Utz," he said.
"Over the years we have acted for more than 1,500 not-for-profit organisations and for more than 2,000 individual clients who could not obtain Legal Aid. We have also seconded lawyers to nine community legal services centres around Australia, and acted for pro bono clients in more than 100 regional and remote communities. Our program continues to grow each year in response to the continued demand for legal services, particularly in regional and remote Australia. In the last 12 months, we have provided 36,000 hours of assistance, making our pro bono practice around 3 per cent of this firm's legal work", Mr Hillard said.
"Clayton Utz is proud to have been able to assist so many clients who might otherwise have fallen through the cracks of our legal system."
David praised the efforts of lawyers and other firms who regularly dedicate their time to working on pro bono matters.
"We are not alone in providing pro bono assistance. In the last decade Australia's legal profession has developed one of the strongest pro bono cultures in the world, and I acknowledge the work and commitment not only of our lawyers but of other firms that are working with us to respond to legal need in so many areas."
