‘Pro bono publico’ (shortened to ‘pro bono’) means ‘for the public good’. The Law Society of Tasmania’s scheme is called the Pro Bono Referral Service.
The Society encourages its members to provide pro bono legal assistance as part of their wider professional responsibility as legal practitioners – this has been, and continues to be, part of practice traditionally adopted by the legal profession.
This Pro Bono Referral Service tries to match successful applicants (that are in genuine need of legal help) with a law firm or barrister who is able to assist. No legal assistance or advice is provided by the Referral Service but by the lawyers who have volunteered to be part of the Service.
Pro bono legal assistance can take many forms. Lawyers doing pro bono work under the Society’s Pro Bono Referral Service do not charge professional fees for their time. However, they may charge for other expenses called ‘disbursements’ depending on the type of matter, a person’s circumstances and the lawyer’s own pro bono policy.
Individuals, and some organisations, can apply for assistance from the service. Eligible organisations include ‘not for profit’ or community groups whose purpose is primarily charitable and that can demonstrate an appropriate financial need.
Individuals and organisations may also be eligible for assistance if they are likely to suffer a serious injustice without legal representation, are not eligible for a grant of legal aid, and have insufficient means to afford legal services at professional charging rates.
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