The organisation is a last-resort pro bono legal service used when other avenues such as Legal Aid and community legal centres have been exhausted. The means-tested service matches applications to lawyers who can assist.

Law Access WA chairperson Adam Ebell welcomed the funding and said the organisation is highly cost-effective, minimising administrative overheads by leveraging in kind support from a range of project partners.

“This grant is vital to ensuring the sustainability of Law Access,” Mr Ebell said.

“The funds will be applied to core operational salary expenses, enabling the existing small number of staff employed at Law Access to be maintained.

“We benefit from free accommodation in the University of Western Australia’s faculty of law and in kind corporate services support, reception services and insurance provided by the Law Society of Western Australia.

“Lawyers seconded to Law Access from the Australian Government Solicitor, Jackson McDonald and MinterEllison assist our part-time staff to assess applications. Law student volunteers and interns provide the service with para legal assistance.”

Western Australian Attorney-General John Quigley said Law Access is an important service for vulnerable people across the state.

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“Law Access provides an invaluable service to members of our community who cannot afford legal assistance, with lawyers willing to assist on a pro bono basis,” Mr Quigley said.

“More than $3.5 million of pro bono legal assistance has been leveraged by Law Access since the service commenced on 1 July 2015.”

“I am pleased that the state government was able to provide $100,000 in funding to enable this great work to continue.”