Launch of New Zealand's first national pro bono legal framework

In a groundbreaking initiative, a number of New Zealand’s law firms have come together to launch the Framework for Collaborative Pro Bono in Aotearoa. This first-of-its-kind national network aims to enhance access to justice for all New Zealanders by fostering collaboration and supporting pro bono culture across the motu.

The Collaborative Framework is a strategic network led by Te Ara Ture, the nation's first pro bono clearinghouse and part of Community Law Centres Aotearoa, in collaboration with DLA Piper, Gilbert Walker, Holland Beckett, Luke Cunningham Clere, Russell McVeagh and Simpson Grierson. Inspired by successful models such as the Australian Pro Bono Centre and the UK Collaborative Plan, the Collaborative Framework seeks to centralise pro bono efforts.

The heart of this initiative lies in its commitment to expanding access to legal services for vulnerable people in our communities. Key objectives of the Collaborative Framework include:

1. Collaboration to motivate more pro bono in New Zealand: The Collaborative Framework will create a cooperative approach to pro bono work and culture, with participating firms sharing ideas, goals and learnings and coordinating efforts to maximise impact.


2. Increased access to justice: Participating law firms will promote access to justice for low income and vulnerable people. By promoting pro bono through a New Zealand-specific Framework, law firms can scale up pro bono services to address gaps in legal aid, provide representation and empower those who cannot afford legal assistance.


3. Targets and benchmarking: Each participating law firm will agree to a voluntary aspirational pro bono target of at least 25 hours of pro bono legal work per FTE lawyer each year. Participating law firms will report against this target annually in an anonymous and de-identified format, allowing for benchmarking and guidance for the development of a strong pro bono ecosystem.


4. Advocacy and education: Beyond individual cases, the network will advocate for systemic change and legal reform. Educational initiatives will raise awareness about pro bono work and encourage more lawyers to participate.

“Our team at DLA Piper, alongside Te Ara Ture and five other leading law firms, has worked tirelessly to create this transformative initiative, which fosters collaboration to expand access to justice for New Zealand’s most vulnerable communities. This is a significant step towards ensuring no one is left behind in accessing legal support,” says Laura Scampion, Managing Partner in New Zealand.

Participating law firms expect to make a real difference to vulnerable communities in New Zealand, particularly those who do not qualify for Legal Aid but are unable to afford a lawyer. The UK Collaborative Plan, which started with a similar number of founding firms, now has over 80 participating law firms and involves more than 34,000 lawyers in the UK. Last year participating firms collectively provided over 576,000 hours of pro bono work. In Australia there are now 330 signatories to the Australian Pro Bono Centre’s National Target who undertook a record 718,596 hours of pro bono work last year. The Centre has played a key role in mobilising the sector and enhancing the effectiveness of pro bono in Australia to respond to issues of national importance such as the climate crisis and the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

 

A new era for pro bono in New Zealand

Key players in the sector came together to establish the Collaborative Framework at a hui late last year, led by Te Ara Ture.

Te Ara Ture connects Community Law clients and non-profit organisations needing free legal help to lawyers providing services for free for the public good. Sabrina Muck, Director, highlights the potential for the Framework to play a significant role in addressing the high levels of unmet legal need, particularly for vulnerable communities. Sabrina says, “As a profession, we are well aware of the high levels of unmet legal need in our society. The launch of the Collaborative Framework offers an identifiable and structured pathway for lawyers across New Zealand to engage in providing pro bono services. In facilitating high-quality pro bono legal advice, we are able to walk alongside clients who would otherwise have nowhere else to go, with the aim of providing access to justice to those who need it most.”

 

Joining forces for a better future

The Collaborative Framework is a profession-led initiative dedicated to supporting and promoting pro bono within law firms in Aotearoa. Participation is voluntary and non-exclusive. All firms are welcome to participate. To get involved or learn more about the Collaborative Framework, please contact Sabrina Muck at Te Ara Ture.

Jesse Savage, Vice President of the New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa commented, “The New Zealand Law Society Te Kāhui Ture o Aotearoa strongly supports this access to justice initiative. From the Law Society’s Access to Justice survey (of almost 3,000 lawyers) we found that “A fifth of lawyers are very interested in providing free legal services to people who cannot afford to access the legal system”. Lawyers have always been strong supporters of pro bono work, with 29% indicating that they are already doing some form of pro bono work. The greatest barrier reported was workplaces not allowing or encouraging them to do so. This framework provides the opportunity for these lawyers and, in conjunction with Te Ara Ture, will further increases access to justice for people who cannot afford legal representation.”