PILCH recently made a submission to the Commonwealth Legal Services Review. Part of the review was to consider ways in which the Commonwealth could support pro bono as a part of its purchasing of legal services. PILCH submitted that the Federal Government has a responsibility to promote and support the professionalism of pro bono legal services in the private sector through policy designed to increase socially responsible outcomes.
In particular, PILCH recommended that the Attorney-General introduce a mandatory contractual requirement that each legal firm that is a participant of the Commonwealth legal scheme must “commit to provide pro bono services of at least 5% of the value of the legal fees they derive under the panel arrangements”.This recommendation draws on the successful implementation of similar requirements that the Victorian government has imposed on law firms that are selected as providers on the Victorian government legal service panel. PILCH also recommended adopting definitions of pro bono services and approved causes that are consistent with the Victorian scheme.
