Media release

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

ATTENTION NEWS EDITORS, BUSHFIRE REPORTERS, LEGAL REPORTERS

Please note bushfire legal help phone number 1800 113 432

GOVERNMENT LAW FIRMS PROVIDE $14M IN PRO BONO WORK

Free legal services to disadvantaged Victorians provided by law firms on the Brumby Labor Government’s Legal Services Panel has soared to more than $14 million, Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls announced today.

Mr Hulls released the 2008–09 annual report of the Legal Services Panel which showed Victorian law firms on the panel more than doubled their contractual commitment of providing $6.6 million in pro bono legal services.

'This is an impressive result, which shows an increase from $12 million in the previous financial year, and includes pro bono work done by legal firms for those affected by the bushfires through Bushfire Legal Help,' Mr Hulls said.

'Panel firms in Victoria have provided better access to justice for disadvantaged members of our community who otherwise may not have been able to get representation or assert their rights.

'Over seven years, the panel has directed more than $45 million in free legal services to disadvantaged groups and in public interest matters.'

The 2008–09 annual report covers the seventh and final year of the first panel for legal services to Government. The new panel of 20 firms began last July and has been appointed for four years.

Firms on the Legal Services Panel are appointed to provide legal services to Government departments and certain agencies and authorities.

'The new panel structure is smaller and more focussed and ensures specialist firms have a better opportunity to compete for work,' Mr Hulls said.

'Law firms that successfully tendered to provide Government legal services had to promote key justice initiatives, such as the requirement to report on the status of women in their firms.'

Mr Hulls said panel firms would continue to comply with equal opportunity policies and report on the briefing of female barristers for Government work.

'The 2008–09 annual report shows that 36 per cent of briefs went to women, who invoiced 24 per cent of the overall fees, and encouragingly the average fee invoiced by women has increased from $1,400 in 2007–08 to $2,400 in 2008–09,' he said.

'The percentage of briefs given to women is far more than the representation of women at the Victorian Bar, who make up only 23 per cent of the membership.

'Unfortunately, despite the gains we have made, there is still a gender imbalance within the legal profession.

'The Brumby Labor Government has been leading the way in promoting gender equality in the law through promoting women to the judiciary and advocating cultural change in the profession by using the panel firms’ contractual obligations to encourage equal opportunity. But the Government can’t do it all on its own. I would urge all law firms and the Victorian Bar to continue to mentor and develop junior women at the bar.'

Media contact, Meaghan Shaw – phone (03) 9651 5799 or mobile 0409 536 652