Pro Bono
Supporting Community Legal Centres in justice advocacy and unmet legal need.
Understanding complexity.
Our pro bono team is committed to learning about the patterns, structures and underlying causes that create social unfairness. We are committed to running a pro bono practice that responds appropriately to justice issues and unmet legal need. We prioritise the voice and experience of front line advocates and the clients they serve.
Drafting on Systemic Reform.
We recognise the essential contribution of front line legal lawyers in responding to systemic injustice. Our practice is committed to supporting their work with legal analysis, literature reviews and advocacy writing. Since our practice formalised in 2021 we have provided over 7800 hours of systemic reform support.
We have written extensively on issues including coercive control, domestic violence, economic abuse, access to justice issues in family law, impoverishment and rights for transgender communities.
Providing representation and advice.
Our commercial teams provide pro bono representation and advice to individuals and organisations in various matters including employment litigation and corporate disputes.
Supporting Front Line Clinics.
Our lawyers provide advice and support to legal outreach clinics including Baptist Care Homeless Legal Clinic, Adelaide; Mental Health Legal Tribunal, Victoria; Marrickville Legal Centre, Sydney and Western Sydney Community Legal Centre Employment Law Clinic, Sydney.
Pro Bono leader and practitioner.
Jilly Field
PrincipalSydney
Jilly brings her commercial and front line community legal experience to deliver measured responses to unmet legal need.
Jilly has both directed pro bono practices and worked as a front-line lawyer in areas of poverty law, animal rights, domestic and family violence, systemic reform and advocacy as well as defence for children in the criminal justice system. Jilly is on the Board of Women’s Legal NSW, Transcend Australia and Community Legal Centres NSW. Jilly was awarded Lawyers Weekly Pro Bono Partner of the Year in 2023. She is an Ethics Fellow (Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership) and a student of Sociology (Masters University of New England).
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We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians throughout Australia and their connection to land, culture, waters and skies. We pay our respect to the communities, the people, and Elders past, present and emerging.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. Legal Practitioners employed by and the directors of Gilchrist Connell Pty Ltd are members of the scheme.