Annual Report 2004 – 2005 - pilch

VICTORIAN BAR LEGAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME
The Victorian Bar Legal Assistance Scheme (‘VB LAS’) is now in its fifth successful
year of administration by the Public Interest Law Clearing House (‘PILCH’) and is
overseen by the Legal Assistance Committee (‘LAC’) of the Victorian Bar, to which
PILCH regularly reports.
Over 500 barristers – more than 25 per cent of the practising list – have volunteered to
participate in VB LAS. This strong commitment is reflected amongst barristers of all levels
of seniority and is refreshed on an on-going basis, with about 25 per cent of those who
signed the Bar Roll this year also volunteering to participate in VB LAS. Many barristers,
although not formally registered, welcome requests to assist VB LAS when approached.
The majority of applications to VB LAS come from individuals, many with complex legal
problems and without other options for legal assistance. Individual clients are most
often referred to VB LAS by community legal centres or the courts. Referrals made to
barristers may be for advice, drawing documents and/or appearance work.
VB LAS has greatly benefited from office-sharing with PILCH and with the Law Institute
of Victoria Legal Assistance Scheme (LIV LAS) through opportunities for cross-referrals
and shared knowledge.
FUNDING
VB LAS is funded by the Victorian Bar and the Legal Practice Board. This funding
was increased significantly (from approximately $84,000 to $118,000) in the 2004-
2005 financial year to allow VB LAS to employ additional staff to meet the increased
demands for assistance.
Jane Fricke and Susannah Sage Jacobson
Managers, Victorian Bar Legal Assistance Scheme
STAFFING
During the current reporting period, VB LAS ceased to rely on PILCH secondee solicitors, drawn
from the PILCH member firms, to perform casework. In its ‘coming of age’ (from a staffing point
of view), VB LAS now has the benefit of a full-time dedicated Solicitor/Manager position. This
position has been job-shared by Jane Fricke and Susannah Sage Jacobson since October
2004. Prior to Jane’s commencement, Susannah staffed the position three days per week.
VB LAS has also welcomed Bernadette Segrave as administrative assistant to VB LAS two
days per week. Bernadette commenced at VB LAS in November 2004 and has provided
invaluable support in all aspects of VB LAS’s work.
VB LAS also continues to be assisted by the PILCH staff, volunteers, student interns and
fellows and seconded administrators.
CASEWORK STATISTICS
VB LAS has been substantially busier in the 2004-2005 financial year than it was in the previous
financial year, reflecting a continued increase in demand for pro bono legal services. Total
inquiries rose from 284 to 374, an increase of 32%. Referrals were correspondingly higher,
rising 19% from 154 in 2004-2005 to 184 in 2004-2005. This increase is due to both VB LAS’s
increased capacity and an improvement in VB LAS’s profile. Our increased staffing levels allow
VB LAS to affect a higher volume of timely and appropriate referrals and statistics demonstrate
that stakeholders such as courts and community legal centres are approaching VB LAS
more regularly for assistance. In the reporting period, 39.8% of inquiries were made through
community legal centres, 8.5% through Victoria Legal Aid and 8.5% through court registries.
ADVOCACY
The staff of VB LAS participate in project, policy and advocacy activities, in addition to day to
day inquiry and referral work. These activities are recognised as a natural adjunct to the client
inquiry and referral work, through which it is possible to identify significant areas of legal need
and ways in which to facilitate the delivery of pro bono services to meet those needs.
VB LAS has contributed to law reform by drafting submissions to Parliamentary Inquiries
on subjects directly relevant to its casework. VB LAS prepared a joint submission in April
2005 on behalf of the Victorian Bar and PILCH to the Commonwealth Senate Legal and
Constitutional Legislation Committee Inquiry into the Migration Litigation Reform Bill 2005.
The submission drew on previous submissions prepared by PILCH and the Victorian Bar
in 2003 and 2004 on the various reforms to the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) introduced by the
Government that impact significantly on pro bono practice in this area.
VB LAS also made a submission to the Department of Justice in support of a Homeless
Persons’ Legal Clinic proposal to amend the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (Vic) to make
discrimination on the basis of homelessness or unemployment unlawful.
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