What Works in Pro Bono Legal Partnerships

The National Pro Bono (Legal) Resource Centre has launched a new guide for both legal practitioners and Not for Profit organisations offering practical information about what works in collaborative pro bono projects.

Pro Bono Partnerships and Models: A Practical Guide to What Works highlights the key factors affecting the success of pro bono partnerships or projects looking at the strength of the relationships between project partners, and the strength of the pro bono culture within the organisations that provide the pro bono assistance.

“What Works draws on the expertise of a broad range of stakeholders with experience in the delivery of pro bono legal assistance, including law firms of all sizes, pro bono clearing-houses, community legal centres, Not for Profit organisations, barristers, in-house and government lawyers, and law schools,” Director of the Centre, John Corker said.

“It explores the full range of models of pro bono legal service delivery that now exist in what is an increasingly diverse and dynamic pro bono legal sector provided by Australian lawyers, and highlights the features of the effective use of each model.

“What Works indicates that the key factors affecting the success of any pro bono partnership or project are the strength of the relationships between project partners, and the strength of the pro bono culture within the organisations that provide the pro bono assistance. What Works provides practical tips on how to encourage both.

“What is unique about this resource is that it shows the key benefits, challenges and features of effective projects using each service delivery model, along with real life case studies that illustrate the broad range of pro bono projects being undertaken by Australian lawyers.

“This resource provides an important insight as to how and where pro bono works well, its strengths, but also its limitations when trying to address the unmet legal needs of people experiencing disadvantage.

“It aims to promote a better understanding across the legal profession, the community sector and government as to how pro bono legal services work, with a view to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of pro bono legal support.” 

Detailed case studies illustrate the benefits, challenges and the features of effective projects using each of the following models:

• Case referral
• Clinics
• Outreach
• Secondments
• Fellowships
• Co-counselling
• Secondary consults
• Telephone, video conferencing and online advice
• Law reform
• Assistance to not-for-profit organisations
• Community legal education
• Non-legal assistance
• International pro bono

What Works is a free resource and can be obtained through the centre’s website in an interactive PDF form or by using the Thomson Reuters professional eReader.