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Salvos Legal launches pro bono ‘hot desk’

16 October 2012

Salvos Legal founder and Managing Partner, Luke Geary, speaks at the launch of the Pro Bono Desk. (Photo: Lauren Martin)


The innovative Salvation Army free legal service, Salvos Legal, has launched a new initiative to help lawyers undertake pro bono work and assist with its humanitarian law practice.

The Salvos Legal Inhouse Pro Bono Desk allows lawyers from the corporate and government sectors to undertake volunteer legal work with Salvos Legal at a counsel “hot desk”. They will be supervised and supported as they help Salvos Legal Humanitarian clients.

“Lawyers volunteering at the desk will be able to work on a diverse range of matters across our humanitarian practice,” said Salvos Legal founder and Managing Partner Luke Geary.

“A day’s work may involve supporting a family through their refugee application process, preparing a defence in a criminal matter, appearing in court or ensuring a woman is safe from domestic violence.”

Salvos Legal operates as a corporate law firm offering individuals and companies commercial and property law services. All proceeds are used to fund a free humanitarian law service for those in need.

(From L to R) Salvos Legal Managing Partner Luke Geary, Kathryn Greiner, and Salvos Legal partners Mark Khoo and Andy Stucken at the launch of the Salvos Legal Pro Bono Desk.


At the launch of the pro bono desk, many of the firm’s commercial clients explained why they chose to partner with Salvos Legal.

“The service, quality of advice and people on our contract are absolutely on par if not better than other organisations,” said Peter Juchau of the Commonwealth Bank.

Helen Vickers, General Counsel for Transport for NSW, said Salvos Legal recently joined its new legal panel.

“We like the fact that we are able to support a law firm that gives back to the community. And the other thing for us is the pro bono program is very exciting. My lawyers are very excited to be able to devote some of their time to help the humanitarian side of this business.”

Salvos Legal Partner, Property and Commercial Law, Mark Khoo, said the industry voluntary target for pro bono lawyers is 35 hours per year, but many can’t find opportunities to undertake free legal work.

“You don’t have to be a legal aid lawyer [to work with us on a pro bono basis], we are here to assist and supervise and you can rely on our support and also our professional indemnity insurance,” he said.

“We’re so excited to launch this project to help lawyers help others and to spread the pro bono culture generally across the profession.”

Comments

  1. You are a saint.

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