Faculty of Law Undergraduate Handbook - Faculty of Law - The ...

The Equal Justice ProjectUse your legal skills to help those in the community who cannot afford a lawyer by joining the EqualJustice Project (EJP).In Auckland, despite measures like the legal aid scheme and community law centres, many people stillcannot afford a lawyer. Pro bono work by lawyers helps to address the gap between public resourcesand unmet legal needs.Students can also play an invaluable role to promote access to justice. EJP was formed at the beginningof 2005 and has been gaining momentum ever since. EJP encourages voluntary work by Auckland lawstudents, and works closely with the faculty, community groups and the profession to createopportunities for students to work pro bono while at law school.1. Legal Clinics — students helped to run free legal clinics at the Waitakere Community Law Service.2. Street Law — students prepared and conducted legal education workshops at high schools toincrease awareness about practical aspects of the law. This may extend in 2009 through arelationship being built with the new “Law in Schools” project in Wellington.3. Refuge and Migrant Project — To promote access to justice for refugee and migrant communities,EJP members took part in a scoping study project on the unmet legal needs of migrants in Aucklandin conjunction with the Auckland Regional Migrant Services Trust and AUT.4. Human Rights Project — work alongside the Human Rights Commission and a variety ofprogressive NGO’s such as the new Auckland Disability Law Service.5. Pro Bono Project — The chance to get involved in assisting with real case-work.6. Women’s Justice and Domestic Violence Project — A small team of volunteers helped at theNorth Shore Women’s Centre and SHAKTI Women’s Refuge. This project covers a wide and crucialpart of improving access to justice in Auckland, and keen members have the opportunity to do somefantastic and important work.EJP is entirely student-run, but receives valuable assistance from its patron, Rt Hon E.W. (Ted) Thomas,and its Advisory Committee, made up of Professor Paul Rishworth, Associate Professor Scott Optican andbarrister R.P.G Haines, QC.Students are warmly invited to join EJP. Membership is open to all Part III and Part IV law students and isnon-competitive. Your marks are not important — we only want a dedication to pro bono work andaccess to justice issues.Recruitment will take place in early March and students should look out for posters on the notice boards.If you are a Part III student, please consider taking on a leadership position by applying to be a ProjectManager.For more information, please visit the website (www.equaljustice.co.nz), send an email(info@equaljustice.co.nz), or give EJP a call (3737599 ext 83834).94 | 2010 Faculty of Law Handbook