At a meeting this week with Attorney-General Robert McClelland, it was agreed that the group would provide legal capacity to the Australian Civilian Corp initiative to support the deployment of civilian specialists into countries experiencing or emerging from natural disaster or conflict, prioritise pro bono projects in the region that support the government's pacific law and justice framework, and support the development of young lawyers in the Pacific, with a particular focus on the Commonwealth Law Minister's meeting to be held in Sydney this year.

"The group is proving to be an excellent forum for encouraging and promoting opportunities for Australian lawyers to be involved in international pro bono legal work," Mr McClelland said.

"The government has supported the group through a $100,000 grant last year that kick-started a number of pro bono initiatives in the region."

The group, which was established by the Attorney-General in 2009, promotes international pro bono work by the Australian legal profession, complementing the Australian Government's international aid program.