3 December 2014: Clayton Utz Pro Bono National Practice Group
Leader 1
David Hillard welcomes the Productivity Commission's
recommendations with respect to Pro Bono services and to reforming
Legal Assistance Services, made in the Commission's final
report into Access
to Justice Arrangements.
The Productivity Commission has recognised that civil law
matters "are the poor cousin in the legal assistance
family" in Australia. Present funding arrangements for the
Legal Assistance Sector are unsustainable, and additional funding
of $200 million per year is required to address the most pressing
civil law needs of Australia's most disadvantaged people.
"The Commission has shone the spotlight on just how
difficult it is for low-income and disadvantaged people to access
our legal system," Mr Hillard said. "Most Australians
will be unable to use the law to resolve their problems or enforce
their rights. The Commission estimates that only around 11 per cent
of households
