New initiative matches lawyers doing pro bono work with people who need their services
A new tool that matches lawyers who want to do pro bono work with people who need their services was recently launched in parliament, according to the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS).
The Te Ara Ture pro bono clearinghouse portal, developed with government funding by Community Law Centres o Aotearoa, was launched in parliament by justice minister Kris Faafoi.
According to NZLS, Te Ara Ture will allow lawyers to “register their interest in specific areas of the law, for different types of legal work and for cases that match the amount of time they have available to dedicate to pro bono work.”
“Te Ara Ture means the path or bridge to law,” Darryn Aitchison, director of Te Ara Ture, told NZLS. “It is the pathway to legal help that so many people in desperate situations need but have never known how to access. But it is also the pathway for lawyers seeking to provide that help to reach those people. This tool removes many of the barriers currently in place for those wanting to do pro bono work. It will make it far easier and more efficient for lawyers to connect with those who will benefit the most from their expertise.”
For her part, NZLS president Tiana Epati said the service is an acknowledgement of the increasing support being put behind improving access to justice.
“Over the last few years, I have seen a real effort by the different parts of our justice system to work together to make a difference in this area,” said Epati. “Right now, we are seeing significant change aimed at transforming the way we think about justice, and our justice system.”
