NEWS Council Bulletin

Council Update

24 October 2008

New Initiatives of the Pro Bono Services Office
Council approved the following new initiatives of the Pro Bono Services Office to be carried out on an ad hoc basis:

1 Ad Hoc Pro Bono Assessment Scheme - a scheme to assist practitioners, who wish to undertake their own ad hoc pro bono work for persons not covered under the existing legal aid schemes, by conducting assessment of the prospective clients' suitability for pro bono assistance.

2 Ad Hoc Pro Bono Referral Scheme - a scheme where volunteer lawyers may provide assistance to persons requiring legal assistance but who are ineligible for the existing legal aid schemes.

3 Volunteer Initiative Support Scheme - a scheme to provide administrative support and volunteer co-ordination for practitioners doing pro bono work for persons or community not currently in receipt of organisational support.
Council also agreed with the proposed widening of the volunteer platform of the 'Project Law Help' Scheme to allow for participation of individual volunteer lawyers.

List of Lawyers Providing Legal Services in Mini Fund-type Cases
To assist persons affected by the recent financial crisis who encountered difficulty in seeking lawyers to provide legal advice and representation in their pursuit of claims, members were invited via eJus News to indicate interest in being included in a list of lawyers providing legal services in such areas. The list would be made available to the public on the Society's website.

Funds Raised for the Bar Memorial Scholarship
Council noted that an aggregate sum of $25,000 was raised for the Bar Memorial Scholarship at the Annual Dinner and Dance held on 10 October 2008, through sale of tickets for the event as well as direct donations from members and other persons.