Pro Bono at Clayton Utz

Overview

Our pro bono work has always been about access to justice. We provide advice and representation for people where Legal Aid is not available, and for not-for-profit organisations which support them. Over a quarter-century, we have made pro bono work part of every lawyer's everyday practice.

We are serious about pro bono best practice. We were the first large Australian law firm to establish a formal pro bono practice; appoint a pro bono partner and pro bono senior associate; and sign the National Pro Bono Target. In 2018 we became one of only three firms in the world to have appointed a second pro bono partner. Our dedication to pro bono has helped to shape what it means to be a leading Australian law firm.

Since we launched our Pro Bono practice in 1997, we have acted for over 6,500 people as pro bono clients of the firm, and helped thousands of others at external legal clinics. We have advised more than 1,750 not-for-profit organisations. We have provided over 900,000 hours of pro bono legal work.

Each year we act for First Nations people and organisations, and people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. We recover statutory compensation for victim survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. We advocate for workplaces free of exploitation and discrimination. We have pioneered compensation pathways for people held in slavery in Australia, and championed the Health-Justice Partnership model in Australia.

FY24 Snapshot

FY24 is the 3rd time that Clayton Utz has averaged more than 60 pro bono hours per lawyer. More of our lawyers did pro bono work in FY24 this year than ever before. Here is a snapshot of our practice in FY24:

Life-changing pro bono work