PIACBulletin16 - Public Interest Advocacy Centre

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PILCH News and Views NSW Law and Justice Foundation Justice Awards Freehills solicitor and past PILCH secondee Peter Olds was presented with the PILCH Award at the NSW Law and Justice Foundation 2002 Justice Awards’ dinner on 11 November 2002 The award was presented to Peter in recognition of the outstanding contribution he made to the PILCH Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) Project during and following his secondment Since December 2001 PILCH had been part of a working group formed to provide an organised response to the expected large number of asylum seekers applying for permanent protection in 2002-2003 Peter was instrumental in initiating a PILCH project to seek the assistance of PILCH member lawyers to provide access to legal services to asylum seekers holding temporary protection visas and seeking permanent protection Over 150 PILCH member lawyers offered their assistance on a pro bono basis Training of the volunteer lawyers is now complete and assistance is being co-ordinated by the project co-ordinator at the working group member Refugee Advice and Casework Service Practising in the Public Interest The PIAC/PILCH Practising in the Public Interest Course is now entering its third year and is being conducted twice a year with participating universities In July 2002 PIAC and PILCH conducted the course as a Winter School in conjunction with the University of Western Sydney (Nepean) and Macquarie University PILCH firm Gilbert & Tobin hosted the course As part of the Winter School law students from the two universities undertook placements with PILCH member firms Blake Dawson Waldron, Gilbert & Tobin, Allens Arthur Robinson, Freehills and Mallesons Stephen Jaques Students also undertook placements with the Environmental Defender’s Office, Clayton Utz, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, the office of the Hon Dr Meredith Burgmann MLC, Maurice Blackburn Cashman and the Legal Aid Commission of NSW PILCH referrals of note National Pro Bono Research Centre PILCH member firms Allens Arthur Robinson, Harmers Workplace Lawyers and Freehills have provided extensive pro bono legal services to assist with the establishment of the Centre Tax With changes to the definition of “charity” announced by the Federal Treasurer in August, many organisations have approached PILCH for assistance in attaining tax concessions and deductibility status Freehills assisted a newly incorporated charity that distributes food to needy families to apply for a range of tax benefits Coudert Brothers have been assisting with drafting submissions on an appeal against a decision of the ATO on behalf of a family support service Blake Dawson Waldron has been examining the constitution of a philanthropic funding organisation to ensure compliance with ATO deductibility guidelines Incorporation Gadens Lawyers provided advice to a peak refugee support and advocacy body on its options for incorporation Mallesons Stephen Jaques has been assisting three large charities with a feasibility study on amalgamation Deacons has been advising in the establishment of a corporate structure for a regional group that provides emergency assistance to women and children in situations of domestic violence PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal is providing similar advice for the publishers of early reading materials for children Workplace issues Corrs Chambers Westgarth are providing legal advice to a child-care centre about its potential duties toward pregnant staff members in light of a recent NSW Court of Appeal decision A company which publishes educational resources for marginalised groups is being assisted by Baker & McKenzie in relation to a key staff member’s migration to Australia Peter Maiden, barrister, has advised a peak body for disability service providers on the ramifications of assisting disabled clients to access sex workers Gilbert & Tobin have provided PILCH with pro forma costs agreements for use by pro bono lawyers and are advising on the consequences for costs awards of acting pro bono Refugees Graham Jones Lawyers have drafted a contract designed to protect the anonymity of refugees and asylum seekers who make comments to the media, in order that their families in their home countries are not endangered Freehills’ Canberra office provided an advice on registration requirements for solicitors who had volunteered to assist refugees with applications for permanent protection 8 PIAC Bulletin No 16 • December 2002
Stephen Lloyd, barrister, prepared submissions and appeared in a deportation matter in which it was argued that the best interests of the children involved had not been sufficiently considered And Sally Habibi at Carroll & O’Dea has agreed to provide assistance with the translation of legal documents into Arabic so that lawyers for refugees and asylum seekers in detention may provide clients with advice in a comprehensible form Discrimination Minter Ellison advised a disabilities legal service on the implications of the Civil Liability Act 2002 for discrimination actions Kate Eastman, barrister, advised in a disability discrimination matter in which a child had been excluded from schools on the basis of learning difficulties Mark Brabazon, barrister, gave advice on jurisdictional issues and merits in an appeal brought to the Administrative Decisions Tribunal for matters of alleged racial discrimination Bill McManus, barrister, has agreed to advise on issues surrounding a dispute between an employment agency and two intellectually disabled job-seekers Dr Holger Sorensen of Ground Floor Wentworth is advising a group of disabled clients upon their entitlements to monies accrued as interest on their savings and held in trust Other matters Allens Arthur Robinson advised a community group on its planned appeal against a development consent which had the effect of significantly lessening local access to recreational facilities John Robson, barrister, is assisting a residents group with the drafting of documents in their appeal against the planning minister’s consent Chris Greiner, Partner, Blake Dawson Waldron and PILCH President with Peter Olds, Solicitor, Freehills, winner of the PILCH Award at the NSW Law and Justice Foundation 2002 Justice Awards to a waste terminal Mr Peter Bruckner of 5 Wentworth Chambers settled appeal documents in a victims compensation matter The client’s subsequent victory was described in the media as a “major victory for the stolen generations” PILCH News The convening of the National Pro Bono Workshop provided a timely opportunity for members of the Boards and staff of PILCH organisations in NSW, Victoria and Queensland to meet and address issues of common interest and concern The meeting, hosted by PILCH member firm Blake Dawson Waldron, considered proposals to create a national identity and network, opportunities to undertake joint and national projects and ways in which PILCH could assist the work of the NPBRC Secondee solicitors continue to play a vital role in maintaining the PILCH — Photo: Thanks to the Law and Justice Foundation assessment and referral scheme as well as assisting with PILCH projects, training and promotional activities During its ten years of operations PILCH member firms have provided a total of 32 solicitors on secondment to the Clearing House Bassina Farbenblum, solicitor from Minter Ellison, completed a three month secondment in August 2002 Our current solicitor on secondment is Andrew O’Keefe from Allens Arthur Robinson Andrew completes his secondment in November and will be followed by solicitor Sharon Sekulic from Mallesons Stephen Jaques PILCH member firms Freehills and Allens Arthur Robinson have agreed to provide secondee solicitors in 2003 If you are able to provide secondee solicitors to PILCH during next year, or have any queries in relation to secondments, please contact Sandra Stevenson or Andrea Durbach at PILCH on 02 9299 7833 # PIAC Bulletin No 16 • December 2002 9
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