Legal Resource Centre Looks for a Director
13 June 2002 at 1:06 pm
The National Pro Bono Resource Centre, to be established in Sydney in association with PIAC, PILCH and other partners, is looking for a Director.
Advertisements have appeared in the daily newspapers in recent weeks outlining the job which has taken some six months to finalise.
The position of founding Director is full time initially for one year with the possibility of continuing for a further 3 years.
The job description says the Director will develop national relationships across legal and other sectors, support and enhance pro bono services and ensure the centre’s ongoing viability. The applicant must have a sound understanding of legal practice, and outstanding leadership and communication skills.
The Federal Government announced in November last year that a consortium lead by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) had been selected to establish and run a National Legal Pro Bono Resource Centre.
PIAC is partnered by the Law Society of Western Australia, the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) NSW, PILCH Victoria, the University of New South Wales and the National Association of Community Legal Centres.
The Coalition has committed to fund the centre for $1 million over four years.
Its establishment was the central recommendation in last year’s report of the National Pro Bono Task Force into pro bono legal work. (see Volume 4 Edition 2)
The Task Force was chaired by Australian Law Reform Commission Chairman, Professor David Weisbrot, and examined issues ranging from research and promotion of pro bono legal work to best practice resources, quality assurance and the need to co-ordinate a national effort.
It recommended the establishment of an ongoing body that would stimulate and encourage the development, expansion and co-ordination of pro bono legal services as well as offering practical experience for service providers and potential service providers. The centre would also play key roles of facilitating pro bono practice and enabling the collection and exchange of information.
The Task Force recommended that the Centre be established as a small independent organisation with a high profile director and at least two support staff to begin with. It would develop its own identity and niche, determine its own priorities and seek to make the most effective use of human and other resources.
The fundamental aim of the Centre will be to promote access to high quality pro bono legal services. Applications close today.
PIAC Director, Andrea Durbach says there has been significant interest in the position from around Australia.
She hopes to announce an appointment by the end of July which will coincide with the launch of the Centre and a special pro bono law workshop on both the new role and issues of overcoming barriers to pro bono legal work.
The workshop is sponsored by PIAC and the Attorney General’s Department. More news on this when the details are finalised.
