Pro bono: legal services undertaken voluntarily and without payment as a public service

Examining the value of Pro Bono work: For who? 1. Students 2. The public 3. The courts 4. Universities

About Community Legal Practice  6 unit topic  Held in summer and semesters 1 and 2 each year.  Joint initiative between the Adelaide and Flinders Law Schools  Enrolment quota of 8 students from Flinders  All places are currently with the Adelaide Magistrates Court Legal Advice Clinic

 4 Flinders and 4 Adelaide students work at the clinic each Thursday  Students attend fortnightly seminars  Assessment includes a professional journal and an ‘access to justice’ project About Community Legal Practice

Our Personal Goals Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 1. For the Students participating at the clinic

Our experiences include several compulsory practical exercises:  conduct at least 3 interviews with clients  carry out conflict searches  open new files and close existing ones  observe court hearings Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 1. For the Students participating at the clinic

Interviewing

Conflict Searches

Opening and Closing Files

Other experiences:  opportunities to draft pleadings  write letters of advice and opinion  perform research at the Adelaide Supreme Court Library Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 1. For the Students participating at the clinic

Observing Court Hearings

Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 1. For the Students participating at the clinic Other experiences cont.:  exposure to a variety of practice areas

Develop time management skills Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 1. For the Students participating at the clinic

The Clinic’s fabulous staff! From Flinders University: Rachel Spencer Grant Niemann David Bamford

The Clinic’s fabulous staff! From Adelaide University: Margaret CastlesGeorgina Hone

The Clinic’s fabulous staff! Managing Solicitor: Christine Christopolous

Support from the Magistrates Court Registry

Support from the Court’s Administration Authority: Our new location!

Support from the Court’s Administration Authority: Our new location!

Support from the Court’s Administration Authority: Our new location!

Support from the Court’s Administration Authority: Our new location!

Examining the value of Pro Bono work: For who? 1. Students 2. The Public 3. The Courts 4. Universities

Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 2. For the Public Client Satisfaction Survey : 43 participants  36 positive responses  5 negative in some aspect responses  2 denied attendance

Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 2. For the Public Client Satisfaction Survey : Reasons For Attendance:  to gain advice about a legal matter involving a Defence or commencement of proceedings  procedural assistance for appearance or documentation

Data and graph taken from “Client Survey Results” by Sally Cox et al

Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 2. For the Public ● Constructive Criticisms:  greater publicity  supervisor present at interviews  offer advice for criminal matters Positive responses  “ I felt supported”  “received invaluable assistance” Client Satisfaction Survey :

Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 3. For the Courts 668 files to date Caseflow Management

Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 3. For the Courts Dr Andrew Cannon Eases pressure off registry staff “When the clinic provides competent advice and ensures parties have realistic expectations, then it is an invaluable service for the court and the individuals involved.”

Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 3. For the Courts Dr Andrew Cannon cont. querulous litigants – complaining in a petulant or whining manner majority of unrepresented litigants have genuine and justifiable claims Magistrates need to be more aware of the clinic’s existence and services

Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 4. For Universities Perpetuating the Flinders Ethos Think, Learn, Lead, Link

Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 4. For Universities Community Legal Practice enables us to: THINK independently and LEARN a range of skills that will assist in our development as lawyers. We are LEADing the way to access justice and LINKing Flinders University with the community.

Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 4. For Universities Promoting Community Legal Practice: Advocates legal work with a social focus

Promoting Community Legal Practice: expands on practical skills learnt from core law topics Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 4. For Universities

Promoting Community Legal Practice: Strengthens relationship between Flinders and Adelaide Law schools Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 4. For Universities

Examining the value of Pro Bono work: 4. For Universities Promoting Community Legal Practice: ensures that students find out about the topic

Community Legal Practice The Future Popularity growing Increasing demand for places Additional placements offered from Semester 2, 2007

Community Legal Practice The Future Additional placements: 2 places at the Tenants Information and Advice Service  for students who have studied Housing Law 2 places at the Refugee Law and Policy Clinic  for students who have studied Australian Immigration & Refugee Law

In Conclusion Today we have: Talked to you about Community Legal Practice Explained how the Magistrates Court Legal Advice Clinic works Illustrated the positive impact the clinic has on students, the public, the court and universities

In Conclusion We hope that you can raise awareness about this topic amongst students and continue to support all pro bono work undertaken by students and fellow staff from Flinders University

Thank you for your time!