PILCH Vic & NSW Merge

The Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) in Victoria and NSW will join forces to become one integrated pro bono legal organisation serving both states, it’s been announced.

"We believe the integration will enable us to work more effectively within the changing pro bono landscape," PILCH Victoria President, Mitzi Gilligan said.

“This change means we can present a single entry portal for access to pro bono services in Australia’s largest states.

“We will retain the physical presence of PILCH in both states, including the delivery of services. The combined ability to deploy pro bono resources in the public interest across two states will allow increased flexibility to respond and increased opportunity for members.

“The purpose of the ‘new’ PILCH remains the same – to respond to the unmet legal need of people experiencing marginalisation and disadvantage by strategically using the pro bono resources of the private legal profession and by supporting the expansion of quality pro bono work.”

PILCH NSW President, Gordon Renouf, said the move to integrate was a logical step for the two organisations.

“The new thinking and sharing of ideas across the new organisation and with our members and stakeholders will allow an exciting evolution to begin. Our members in both states, including the many we have in common, are very enthusiastic about this change. Our aim is to do what we do, but better. We will be working on exactly how that happens in the coming months,” he said.

The agreement means the organisations will work to full integration by July 1, 2013, with Victorian Executive Director Fiona McLeay appointed as transitional Executive Director of the new organisation.

Mitzi Gilligan and Gordon Renouf have made themselves available to be appointed as Chair and Deputy Chair by the new Board when it commences on July 1, 2013.

The move follows agreement between the Boards in principle in May 2012, after stakeholder consultation earlier in the year and resolutions passed at the AGMs of each organisation last week.