Griffith Law School staff and students will walk alongside hundreds of legal professionals in Brisbane and around Queensland on National Pro Bono Day to raise money for community law organisation LawRight.
The annual Queensland Legal Walk, now in its tenth year, reaffirms the legal profession’s commitment to pro bono work and addressing the gaps in the civil justice system by providing free legal help to the most vulnerable in our community.
LawRight aims to raise $150,000 to provide legal services to clients of hospitals, mental health and Aboriginal health services. Griffith Law School has set a team fundraising goal of $1,500. Donations can be made through their team fundraising webpage.
Griffith Law School’s Ms Zoe Rathus AM says staff and students participate because of a shared interest in social justice and the School’s historical connection with QPILCH, the former name of LawRight.
“We were the first to set up a legal clinic with them and there was some reluctance about whether law students could really do that kind of work. However, working with Griffith demonstrated the benefits of working with students,” she says.
LawRight have since expanded the legal help they offer and work with law students from a number of institutions.
Zoe says the work done by law students through the legal clinic contributes to this vital service.
“The Queensland Legal Walk acknowledges LawRight’s contributions to social justice and encourages us to raise money to support their services. It’s a lovely event, my dog Marley always joins me and you always spot people you recognise in the crowd,” she says.
The Queensland Legal Walk event in Brisbane will start at the Queen Elizabeth II Court Complex and wind through the city and alongside the Brisbane River, before finishing with a breakfast and award ceremony at the Courts.