Thank You Event 2024
Thank You Event 2024
On March 7, 2024 LawRight hosted a Thank You Event to thank our valued partners. It was our opportunity to celebrate our supporters and the impact they have made through strategic pro bono.
Through the support of Friends of LawRight, member firms and barristers, and everyone who volunteered or donated, we helped over 1,700 clients in 2022-23. Many of their stories are captured in our Annual Report and we look forward to sharing more stories.
As we launch into 2024, we are excited to share our plans for more impactful work, supported by events including the Queensland Legal Walk on Tuesday 14 May, and Red Wine for Justice later in the year.
Queensland Legal Walk 2025
Queensland Legal Walk 2025
The 2025 Queensland Legal Walk was a resounding success, uniting more than 1,150 participants across Queensland in a powerful show of support for access to justice. Held during Law Week, the Walk brought together legal professionals, law students, community leaders, and supporters across seven regional and metropolitan locations, including Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.
We raised over $125,000 – our most successful year to date – to support LawRight's vital pro bono legal services for vulnerable Queenslanders facing complex challenges, and $10,000 will go directly to Townsville Community Law to support disaster relief efforts, ensuring essential legal help reaches those affected by crises.
A big thank you to our regional organisers – Townsville Community Law, Suncoast Community Legal Service, Downs and Southwest Queensland Law Association, and Anglicare & Mission Australia (Cairns).
Queensland Legal Walk 2024
Queensland Legal Walk 2024
On the 14 May 2024 we celebrated the important role of pro bono in helping the most disadvantaged and marginalised Queenslanders, while raising funds to support access to justice. For over 15 years, members of the legal profession have woken up early on National Pro Bono Day, to connect with their colleagues and walk to show their support for access to justice.
This year, 1,056 walkers across Queensland raised $119,538 for LawRight’s vital services. They represented over 71 organisations, including chambers, law firms and university law schools.
In Brisbane, the Walk was led by LawRight patron, the Honourable Chief Justice Helen Bowskill. Mr Jimmy Sullivan MP also led the Walk and spoke on behalf of Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath MP
Red Wine for Justice 2024
Red Wine for Justice is held every two years. The event held on Friday 23 August 2024 was our most successful yet raising over $100,000.
Red Wine for Justice 2024 was a tremendous success thanks to all who either donated wines and prizes, participated in the bidding or came along to enjoy the night.
We are grateful for this overwhelming support to raise such a significant amount to help LawRight supplement its services to ensure no one is denied justice because of their financial position.
We would like to acknowledge and thank all our donors, bidders and supporters, our auctioneer, Yianni Mooney and our hosts, Herbert Smith Freehills who all helped to make Red Wine for Justice 2024 such a resounding success.
Red Wine for Justice 2022
Record Fundraising at Red Wine for Justice 2022!
Thank you to everyone who helped make Red Wine for Justice a fabulous success. We raised $80,000 on the night, including an auction record of $53,000 crowned by the premier lot – a bottle of 2008 Penfolds Grange Vintage donated by Andrew Crowe KC and won by Matthew Jones for $7,050.
Thank you to those who donated wines for drinking, auction and raffling, and to those who bid generously for our 44 auction lots.
We are especially grateful to our entertaining guest speaker, Justice Peter Applegarth AM, and to our special volunteers – our MC Bridget O’Brien, sommelier Andrew Buchanan and auctioneer Yianni Mooney.
All funds raised will enable LawRight to continue our financial counselling service for the rest of the financial year. This service increases the effectiveness of each of the pro bono Community and Health Justice Partnerships and responds to vulnerable community members who were further impacted by the March 2021 floods.
Public Interest Address 2021
LawRight’s Public Interest Address (PIA) for 2021 was delivered on 25 October by the Hon. Susan Kiefel AC, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia and celebrated 20 years of pro bono through LawRight.
A copy of the speech is available here.
Since 2002, the PIA has canvassed Guantanamo Bay concerns, immigration detention, civil justice reforms, public interest litigation and the role of lawyers in environmental, mental health, child protection and First Nations community challenges.
20th Anniversary Event
LawRight began in 2001 and has grown to be the premier coordination point for pro bono civil law services in Queensland, with the legal profession delivering over 33,383 hours of strategic legal services annually, at 21 locations throughout the state.
However, 20 years ago, this was just a vision in the minds of a small group of lawyers concerned about lack of access to civil law services in Queensland. They believed a 'clearing-house' approach would be the most efficient and targeted response to community need. They formed a planning group which first met formally on 28 November 2000, voted to incorporate on April 5, 2001 and was officially incorporated on 8 June, 2001 as the Queensland public Interest Law Clearing House (QPILCH). QPILCH was publically launced by Paul de Jersey AC, Chief Justice of Queensland and the Attorney General on 19 April, 2002.
The members of the first Management Committee and other lawyers active in this foundation year, included:
- Andrew Buchanan, President - Partner Allens
- Hugh Scott-Mackenzie, Vice President - Partner, King & Wood Mallesons
- Simon Cleary, Secretary and Treasurer - Legal Aid Queensland
- Lucy Bretherton - Special Counsel, Ashurst
- Geoff Harley - Managing Lawyer, Clayton Utz
- Tom Byrne – Queensland Law Society Inc
- Robert Reed – Senior Associate, MinterEllison
- Peter Rosengren – Partner, McCullough Robertson
- Dan O’ Connor – CEO, Bar Association of Queensland Inc
- Assoc. Prof Jeff Giddings – Griffith Law School
- Robyn Wilkinson – Executive Legal Officer Legal Aid Queensland
- Merran Lawler - President, Community Legal Centres Queensland
Other active supporters include:
- John Hodgins - CEO Legal Aid Queensland
- John Dewar - Dean of Griffith Law School
- Graham Quinlivan - Head of Legal Practice LAQ
- Cliff Hughes - Clayton Utz
- Simon Morrison - Shine Lawyers
Queensland Legal Walk 2023
Queensland Legal Walk 2023
On the 16 May 2023 we celebrated the power of pro bono at the Queensland Legal Walk 2023. The crowd started from the Brisbane waterfront, at their regional centre, local beauty spot, or solo starting at 7 am. We celebrated the legal profession’s commitment to access to justice! Stay up to date with LawRight’s news to attend next year’s walk!
Queensland Legal Walk 2020
Queensland Legal Walk 2020
The Queensland Legal Walk is held annually in May on the Tuesday of Law Week. In 2020 the walk was held on Tuesday 19 May.
2020 was a year like no other, and the 2020 Queensland Legal Walk was like no other Walk.
Funds raised from the Walk help to:
- grow our health justice partnerships, which put lawyers into health settings to assist vulnerable people experiencing complex social and legal problems; and
- replenish the Disbursement Fund, which helps clients of pro bono lawyers and community legal centres to cover expenses associated with their legal matter.