The legal profession has a long history of providing free help when needed to ensure individuals or groups understand their rights and can seek justice.
This spirit of pro bono came out in full force in the aftermath of the devastating February Victorian bushfires.
Within hours of the full scale of the disaster becoming apparent, Victoria’s legal profession was considering how it could help.
The result was a coalition of legal groups, Bushfire Legal Help (BLH), which has offered legal advice to victims via a telephone hotline and clinics conducted in fire-affected areas.
Nearly 600 lawyers have offered free services and dealt with more than 1000 inquiries through BLH which is supported by the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV), Victoria Legal Aid, the Federation of Community Legal Centres, the Victoria Law Foundation (VLF) and PILCH.
LIV public affairs manager and BLH spokesperson Kerry O’Shea has described the legal profession’s response as heartening.
“There was an immediate and spontaneous outpouring of offers of free assistance from all levels of the profession which was incredibly gratifying to see,” she said.
“We have experienced lawyers from all practice areas ready to give their advice at no cost to Victorian bushfire victims,” she said.
Initial inquiries from bushfire victims included re-establishing identity, housing and tenancy issues, dealing with creditors, insurance information, reconstructing and tracking down wills, paying mortgages and accessing emergency government grants and benefits.
Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls has praised the enthusiasm and willingness of lawyers to volunteer their time and expertise, saying it had been “an impressive example of the legal fraternity at its best”.
The need for legal assistance is expected to continue over the coming months as people return to their communities and start rebuilding their lives.
It is predicted the main specialties will be insurance, property and housing law, with issues including re-surveying, rental complaints and rebuilding homes under changed planning schemes.
But it is not just when disaster strikes that lawyers offer free advice. Many lawyers provide pro bono services throughout the year and also hold forums to ensure people properly understand their legal rights.
At a statewide level, the upcoming Law Week (11-17 May) has a number of free legal seminars on offer to help Victorians understand their rights across a range of legal issues.
The free seminars include topics such as helping older Victorians safeguard their savings, providing tips on best practice to committee members of community organisations, unfair and unlawful job termination, enduring powers of attorney and the rights of older residents in relation to accommodation and care options.
A new guide to free and low cost legal services has also been developed. The Law Help Guide lists general and referral agencies (such as Victoria Legal Aid), more specialised legal agencies that deal with particular areas of law, and complaint investigation bodies.
The free, 6-page guide can be downloaded from www.victorialawfoundation.org.au or a printed copy is available from Information Victoria on ph 1300 366 356.
Law Week, coordinated by the VLF, brings together 200 organisations including law firms, courts, government departments and a range of public benefit organisations in more than 250 events across the state.
Other highlights include:
- Courts Open Day with tours and mock trials of the Supreme, County, Magistrates’ and Children’s Courts;
- cemetery tours, visiting the graves of law makers and law breakers;
- public library displays, with free legal brochures; and
- Careers in Law Expo.
A full program of Law Week events is available at www.victorialaw.org.au.
For fact sheets and information available to bushfire victims, go to www.bushfire legalhelp.org.au and the Bushfire Legal Helpline on ph 1800 113 432.
