Griffith Law School staff and students joined Brisbane’s legal community to walk for justice during ‘Law Week’ this month.
The Queensland Legal Walk, held annually, delivers vital funds to the Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House (QPILCH), and involves a five kilometre loop starting at The Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law.
Participants from around Queensland raised more than $16,000 to ensure QPILCH continues to provide free legal assistance to the most vulnerable people in our community.
Griffith Law School Professor Jeff Giddings says Griffith’s long standing relationship with QPILCH made it an easy decision to participate in the fundraiser.
“Griffith Law School was closely involved in the establishment of QPILCH back in 2001 and we’ve had students on placement there each year since 2002,” says Jeff.
He says community legal centres like QPILCH play a critical role in raising awareness of issues such as a lack of access to justice and the delivery of legal services.
“I’ve been involved in a wide range of community legal centres as a volunteer, salaried lawyer and management committee member over the past 30 years and I value their work very highly,” Professor Jeff Giddings says.
Griffith Law School’s Director of Legal Clinics Zoe Rathus says community legal centres also play an important role in developing the skills of young lawyers.
Ms Rathus spent 15 years working for the Women’s Legal Service before moving into academia and she credits that time with shaping who she is as a lawyer.
“It’s not just the work community legal centres do that’s so important, but they also give lawyers a chance to contribute to their community and to work with committed and extraordinary colleagues,” Zoe says.
Several local law firms turned out to support the fundraiser, giving Griffith staff the opportunity to catch up with past students and colleagues.
To support QPILCH, please consider donating here.
For more information on studying law at Griffithclick here.