Powered by
MOMENTUM
MEDIA
Rural and remote lawyers are facing a disproportionate burden in providing pro bono work, typically incurring significant costs and risks despite limited resources, ultimately threatening the sustainability of boutique firms and accessibility to justice in Australian regional communities.
Results from the 19th Annual Performance Report of the National Pro Bono Target highlighted that smaller law firms continue to make a significant contribution to pro bono legal services, with 45.7 per cent meeting or exceeding the Target in FY2025–26.
While small, boutique law firms are often deemed to be punching above their weight when it comes to pro bono legal work, the disparity between rural/remote lawyers conducting voluntary work in comparison to lawyers located in urban regions is evident.
This was an increase from 23,099 hours in FY2024–25, while the number of signatories undertaking this substantially reduced fee work had decreased by nine from the previous year.
Australian Pro Bono Centre CEO Gabriela Christian-Hare spoke about the role of boutique firms, particularly how they are based in rural areas, with many lacking resources in comparison to BigLaw firms based in central business district areas.
“Many boutique firms are based in local communities, including suburban, regional, and rural areas,” Christian-Hare said.
“They therefore provide assistance to clients who may have limited access to large city-based firms.”
A proactive approach to mitigating this disproportion is being taken on by BigLaw firms, which have designed a new initiative aimed at giving more access to the legal profession for students in rural and regional areas.
While the initiative provides more opportunities for students in these areas who want to become lawyers and get a job away from their smaller town, the problem still remains for smaller boutique firms in these rural communities, which already lack resources, let alone lawyers.
Frustrations have surfaced by senior lawyers in rural areas, such as Emery Partners Solicitors legal practitioner director Nada Vujat, who is based in Newcastle and Cessnock, and highlighted that unpaid legal work occurs quite often in rural areas.
“For lawyers operating within NSW statutory schemes such as workers’ compensation and motor accident, such pro bono work happens routinely,” Vujat said.
“I [had] a case whereby we challenged a liability dispute made by a CTP insurer, the process took us the equivalent of about four full days to complete – 34 hours.
“We were successful for the client ... However, owing to legislation, we were unable to be paid for our services by the CTP insurer – who caused the problem in the first place – nor even the client who benefited from our good work.
“Hence, we were compelled by statute to work for free.”
AI software Harvey has partnered with major law firms to develop AI-powered tools and workflows that expand pro bono legal services and improve access to justice across Australia, along with the UK and the US.
The initiative looks to streamline legal workflows, decrease the burden on lawyers, and assist firms in supporting more people who cannot afford legal representation.
However, highlighting the broader systemic pressure that the statutory requirement continues to place on local practitioners, Vujat questioned:
“Know of any other professionals who are compelled by the government to work hundreds of hours each year for free, whilst absorbing all the commensurate disbursements and insurance risks? The pressure this places on rural small businesses is immense.
“Many practices are no longer able to assist members of their community – it is not commercially viable for them to do so.
“Such community members are thereby rendered vulnerable and disadvantaged.”
