Merry Christmas and Thank You from LawRight 2024

Thank you for your support of LawRight in 2024. To our member firms, ILPs and barristers, law schools and students, government, our colleagues across the sector, the community agencies and court offices who host our staff and volunteers, to our Friends of LawRight and all who supported our fundraising, and of course to all our hard-working volunteers, I extend my deepest thanks on behalf of LawRight’s staff and management committee.

It’s a pleasure to share a few highlights from 2024 with you below.

Here’s a few words that our clients had to say about your impact:

We were proud to publish our 2023-24 annual report.

Last financial year, LawRight’s 35 staff partnered with 137 members and around 500 volunteers. We took more than 3,318 enquiries but could not help everyone.

Several times this year, we had to pause intake of new clients, due to capacity.

Together we delivered 22,750 pro bono hours at 13 locations to support 1,860 people to access justice.

• 527 clients of our Court and Tribunal Services
• 491 clients through Homelessness Law and Multicultural Law
• 842 people through Pro Bono Connect

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australian Young Lawyer of the Year

Congratulations to our very own Kate Adnams, who was named the Law Council of Australia’s Young Lawyer of the Year.

Kate is a Senior Lawyer in our Homelessness Law practice and leads the Stable Futures for Young Queenslanders project. Kate was recognised for her commitment and contribution to helping vulnerable young people, especially those experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committee farewells the Honourable Roslyn Atkinson AO

At our AGM in December, our management committee returned for another year, with the exception of past president the Honourable Roslyn Atkinson AO, who we farewelled and thanked for her many years of support to LawRight, which we hope will continue in some other form!

 

 

 

 

 

 

LawRight President Jacqui Wootton, LawRight CEO Karen Dyhrberg,

and outgoing committee member the Honourable Roslyn Atkinson AO.

 

Submissions

This year we made various submissions, including on:

• Blue Card changes, particularly for First Nations people and disadvantaged communities
• Changes to the Anti-Discrimination Act
• Independent Review of Queensland’s Human Rights Act
• Victims of Crime and the creation of the Victims’ Commissioner
• Consumer advocacy and responsible Buy Now Pay Later changes
• Changes to youth justice laws

Homelessness Law’s Consumer Advocacy Project

Homelessness Law released its Impact & Insights Report about its Consumer Advocacy Project.

Drawing from Homelessness Law’s frontline casework, this report provides insights into the everyday financial issues impacting people with insecure housing and outlines the impact of holistic, trauma-informed legal assistance.

Through the project, LawRight has helped clients to resolve over $2,739,000 in consumer debts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LawRight will be closed from Friday 20 December and re-open on Monday 13 January.

From everyone at LawRight, we wish you a Merry Christmas, a great holiday break, and look forward to working with you in 2025!

Karen Dyhrberg
LawRight CEO

 

 

 

 

LawRight acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land and waters throughout Australia and pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We benefit from the gifts of First Nations peoples; acknowledge the historical and ongoing injustices they bear and support their call for power over their destiny.