Bar Association Pro Bono Legal Assistance Schemes

03/02/2022

Legal assistance

Expressions of Interest are sought for participation in one or both of the Bar Association’s legal assistance schemes; the Legal Assistance Referral Scheme (LARS) and the Duty Barrister Scheme.

Participation in LARS and the Duty Barrister Scheme is voluntary, members are able to contribute as many or few hours as they wish. As a guide, the Australian Pro Bono Centre suggests barristers work towards an aspirational target of 35 hours of pro bono assistance annually.

The majority of LARS clients belong to the "missing middle" demographic; the Schemes are not available to individuals who are eligible for Legal Aid or who have the means to afford private representation.

The majority of applications for assistance come directly from people who have been turned away from Legal Aid or from Judges making direct referrals to the Association to assist self-represented litigants.

Members who sign up to participate in the Scheme will receive a weekly email providing the details of available pro bono matters and other relevant pro bono news.

Further information and registration is available at the following link: https://nswbar.asn.au/forms/legal-assistance-referral-scheme-and-duty-barrister-scheme

Any queries about the Schemes may be directed to legalassist@nswbar.asn.au

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