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Justice Network, a group of boutique Australian law firms, has launched a 12-month partnership with Friends with Dignity, a charity supporting adults and children escaping domestic violence.
Through this collaboration, launched on Wednesday, 26 August, each of the 14 Justice Network member firms located throughout NSW, Victoria, and Queensland will serve as local drop-off locations, enabling community members to donate vital items to assist families recovering from domestic violence.
Furthermore, Justice Network has initiated a $10,000 fundraising campaign, pledging to match all community contributions dollar-for-dollar.
Friends with Dignity has recently achieved the significant milestone of completing its 1,000th Sanctuary home, having provided over 3,379 individuals with critical support for housing, safety, and educational needs.
Recently, more than 50,000 Australians called on the Albanese government to introduce a national Human Rights Act, which advocates said could strengthen protections against injustice, including preventing single mothers fleeing domestic violence from being forcibly evicted.
The collaboration presents a compelling perspective for the legal industry: amid mounting strain on judicial and social services, how can practitioners further bolster resources for people escaping domestic abuse?
As recently showcased, lawyers are regularly exposed to trauma themselves, with instances of violence, abuse and children’s distress, and genuine resilience means acknowledging these impacts and seeking support rather than becoming emotionally “bulletproof”.
Furthermore, there have been recent concerns that inadequate government funding is leaving vulnerable Australians, including people experiencing domestic and family violence, without sufficient access to essential support services.
Speaking to Lawyers Weekly, Hayder Shkara, director of Justice Network, highlighted the importance of the partnership, as it provides functional support to people rebuilding their lives.
“This partnership matters because domestic violence is not simply a legal problem,” Shkara said.
“Law firms are often among the first professional services approached by someone experiencing domestic violence, which creates a responsibility to look beyond the immediate legal issue.
“The law is important, but a court order alone does not furnish a new home, replace essential belongings, or give someone the practical means to start again.
“Leaving an abusive relationship can affect a person’s safety, housing, finances, employment, and ability to care for their children.
“Friends with Dignity provides practical support at a time when people are often rebuilding their lives from the ground up.
“By partnering with them, we can help ensure that Australians receive meaningful support as they move towards safety and independence.”
Shkara further emphasised the broader role legal professionals must play in addressing the multifaceted impacts of domestic violence.
“Private law firms can do much more than provide legal representation,” Shkara said.
“We can use our resources, professional networks, and public platforms to support frontline organisations, educate the community, train staff to recognise domestic violence and connect clients with appropriate services.
“Through this partnership, Justice Network hopes to create practical support for people rebuilding their lives after domestic violence.”
“We want to deliver tangible outcomes, helping survivors establish safe homes, regain independence and move forward with dignity.”
