Pro bono news around the world
A regular feed of pro bono stories in the media and updates from across the global pro bono sector.
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Unmarried woman wins battle for widowed parent’s allowance: Siobhan’s story
Pro bono lawyers have secured a Supreme Court win in Northern Ireland for a mother of four originally denied a widowed parent’s allowance because she was not married to her partner of 23 years. The lengthy battle to overturn the decision was ultimately decided on the basis that the law was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
Pro Bono Expert Support Service expands to bring in specialist costs lawyers
Costs specialists will team up with lawyers to obtain pro bono costs orders as part of the UK’s first pro bono litigation support service.
Nigerian Bar Association Offers Free Legal Representation to Protesters
The Nigerian Bar Association has announced its commitment to provide free legal representation to protesters involved in the #EndBadGovernance movement who are facing court cases across the country.
AI ethics in law: emerging considerations for pro bono work and access to justice
Artificial intelligence is rapidly advancing, prompting a critical dialogue about its regulation and innovation within the legal field. Understanding how regulatory efforts intersect with innovative applications of AI in pro bono legal services sheds light on the challenges and opportunities in ensuring ethical oversight and improved access to legal support.
The power of training: the importance of educating lawyers on AI tools to successfully scale pro bono efforts
Advancements in artificial intelligence technology have the potential to revolutionise legal practice and, in turn, improve pro bono services. With legal service organisations being forced to turn away around 50 per cent of potential clients due to a lack of capacity, pro bono services are vital to narrowing the access to justice gap. And AI allows lawyers to significantly increase their efficiency.
Foreign diplomat ordered to pay more than $500,000 to a former domestic worker in pro bono wage exploitation case
In 2015, Priyanka Danaratna moved to Australia to be a domestic worker in the home of the then-deputy high commissioner of Sri Lanka, Himalee Subhashini de Silya Arunatilaka. She worked nonstop for three years, getting paid 65 cents an hour. Ms Danaratna was represented on a pro bono basis by Clayton Utz in legal proceedings in the Federal Court. The Court has now found that Ms Arunatilaka breached the Fair Work Act in a number of ways, and ordered her to pay more than $500,000 in unpaid wages and interest.
Legal network provides pro bono support for election workers
Since 2020, election officials across the country have endured threats, harassment, intimidation, defamation and, in some states, exposure to criminal penalties, for simply doing their jobs of administering fair elections. In this highly contentious environment, the Election Official Legal Defense Network connects election officials in need to pro bono attorneys who can provide advice or assistance.
Community law clinics vital to improve access to justice for the man on the street
Legal experts say higher education institutions, through their law faculties, play an important role in ensuring improved access to justice. Community law clinics offer free legal services to those who cannot afford legal representation or support. Often, they are a lifeline for these individuals