PILCH and Not for Profits Get Together
20 November 2000 at 12:11 pm
The Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) is looking to gain new links with Not for Profits to help them obtain pro bono legal assistance.
PILCH provides access and makes referrals to law firms who provide free legal services.
Executive Director Samantha Burchell says Not for Profits, large or small at some stage need legal assistance of one sort or another and with funds so scarce the last thing they should do is fritter them on legal costs.
PILCH is a Not for Profit organisation. It receives no government funding and is kept alive through the membership fees and grants from the Victoria Law Foundation. It refers requests for legal assistance based on ‘merit’ criteria, to lawyers who act on a pro bono basis.
Burchell says it’s good work for law firms because there are no conflicts of interest in working in the Not for Profit sector and it helps fulfil their commitments to pro bono services.
She says some of the legal assistance given to Not for Profits in recent months has been tax advice to the Victorian Children’s Services Association,
copyright advice to a community centre publishing a book on celebrating Federation of the Australian states, leasing advice to a learning centre and assistance with a Freedom of Information application for a conservation group.
She says PILCH has just relocated its Melbourne office into the legal precinct and this has given the organisation room and scope to grow.
PILCH now has two secondee solicitors working with the senior solicitor to help tap into the experience, expertise and resources of its members, including major law firms, the Victorian Bar Council and corporate legal departments.
Anyone wanting more information can contact Pro Bono Australia at probono@probonoaustralia.com.au or PILCH on (03) 9225 6680.
