Round-Up: 2 February 2023

Welcome to 2023's first edition of the Round-Up! 

The Centre’s team are back on deck and are excited for a productive year of growing participation and excellence in pro bono. 

Story of the week 

Thousands attend Invasion Day rallies as constitutional recognition becomes a flashpoint  
Tens of thousands of people have marked Australia’s national day by attending protest rallies in cities across the nation, amid a rising political and social reckoning with the country’s colonial history. 

National News

Victoria to abolish public intoxication laws 
Amid the 2019 coronial inquest into the death of Tanya Day, who died in custody after being arrested for public drunkenness, the Victorian government committed to repealing public drunkenness as a crime. The existing offence will be decriminalised in November 2023, and police will not be given any new move-on or arrest powers. 

Rule change allows South Australian government lawyers to resume pro bono work 
The South Australian government has scrapped a controversial rule that prevented Crown Solicitor and Director of Public Prosecution lawyers from undertaking voluntary work for people who cannot afford their own legal representation. The change means these lawyers can resume voluntary work through independent not-for-profit legal service JusticeNet SA. 

Four pro bono lawyers unlock in-person legal services for refugees in Northern Tasmania 
The Tasmanian Refugee Legal Service (TRLS) has announced it will band with law firm Rae and Partners to provide in-person legal aid to Northern Tasmanian refugees on a pro bono basis. Prior to this, there had been no in-person refugee legal service in Northern Tasmania, with the TRLS operating out of Hobart with six lawyers working on 400 cases statewide. 

“Breaking a community”: What it’s like to face eviction from public housing 
In mid 2022, Sydney public housing resident Carolyn Ienna received a letter informing her that her building was up for redevelopment by the government, and she would have to relocate from her home of over three decades. Together with Redfern Legal Centre, Carolyn has to navigate the long and complex relocation process that public housing tenants must endure when their housing is knocked down; a process that is becoming a common occurrence in Sydney’s inner-city suburbs. 

Updates from the sector

Climate Initiatives

In 2021, the EDO commenced proceedings on behalf of the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility against Santos Limited in the Federal Court over alleged greenwashing. This was the first court case in the world to challenge the veracity of a company’s net zero target and has inspired similar claims overseas.

You can also view case studies from the Chancery Lane Project on the Centre’s Global Pro Bono Climate Action Portal.  

International News

Asia 

Philippines: Law schools hailed for providing legal aid to poor during pandemic 
The Legal Education Board (LEB) awarded law schools who provided free legal advice to the underprivileged during the pandemic at the first Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP) Summit held in Taguig City. The CLEP Awards form part of the LEB’s support of the Supreme Court’s law student practice rule, which requires law students to enrol in law-school clinics. 

Singapore: First community law centre opens in Hougang 
A community law centre has opened at Tian De Temple, aiming to bring legal assistance to those with mobility and technological difficulties. Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, said: “This is the hallmark and essence of [a] CLC (Community Law Centre) – to be located in a place where people don’t feel uncomfortable...for the first time, there will be full-time lawyers serving the community through the CLCs.”

UK

Secondary trauma and pro bono 
Pro bono work may involve supporting vulnerable or at-risk clients, which can impact volunteers’ own mental health. Claire Butler and Nina Garnham of the Law Society UK discuss the risks and how to protect your wellbeing. 

North America 

Canada: Toronto legal firm offers pro bono defence for shoplifting 
The firm 'We Defend You' has offered free defence for theft of basic necessities, highlighting Canadians' struggle with food price inflation. Frank Alfano of the firm told Global News that the current high cost of a grocery bill seems to have magnified the attention he is getting, but said he has always defended such cases pro bono.

USA: Columbus team helps pro bono client Harmony Project find permanent home 
Squire Patton Boggs attorneys Tom Kibbey and Jesse Taylor represented Harmony Project in connection with its long-term lease and management of the former Northland Performing Arts Center (NPAC), a performing arts and community center.