Mills Oakley launches pro bono national online legal service

The missing middle of legal service customers can now connect online with volunteer lawyers.

Australian Pro Bono Centre CEO Gabriela Christian-Hare welcomed the free legal service for vulnerable Australians. Picture: AAP

Several major corporate legal teams have locked in behind the launch of a national free legal service spearheaded by national law firm Mills Oakley.

The service, Everyday Justice, aims to address the widening gulf between those who qualify for legal aid and those who can afford private legal representation.

The need to assist low-to-medium income earners access legal services has long been noted, with several reports delivered on the issue in recent years,

Former attorney general George Brandis quipped in 2012 “unless you are a millionaire or a pauper, the cost of going to court to protect your rights is beyond you”.

Mills Oakley aims to provide free legal advice to 3000 people a year through Everyday Justice, in a major boost to the cash strapped legal advice space.

Everyday Justice’s website soft launched on Monday, aiming to provide legal advice for the many Australians for whom legal advice is beyond reach.

The word has also gone to out community legal services to consider referring those that lack the resources to Everyday Justice.

Everyday Justice managing lawyer Amy Burton said the legal service presented an opportunity for many people in the legal profession and those seeking legal advice.

“Mums who’ve been looking after their kids for a few years now have the opportunity to do this work with us,” she said.

“Our phone service is not going to be means tested. Anyone can call us and we can try and guide them through what they’re going through.”

Mills Oakley partner Luke Geary, who chairs the Everyday Justice board, said the service would assist Australians “whether you’re in the bush or the middle of Sydney”.

“It’s very difficult in the sector to judge success, you could look at metrics on the numbers of clients you see, but we want to see whether or not we are making a difference to people,” Mr Geary said.

The national law firm will contribute two full time staff to the legal service, plus 10 part time volunteer lawyers.

Mr Geary said he expected the free legal service could grow to as many as 50 lawyers in the coming years given the huge expected demand.

“The model is one that is eminently replicable,” he said.

Tech, and staffing costs for Everyday Justice will be funded by Mills Oakley on an ongoing basis and volunteers will be covered by the firm’s insurer.

College of Law centre for legal innovation executive director of Terri Mottershead will also serve on the board of Everyday Justice.

In addition, Mills Oakley staff will be supported to volunteer their time on the legal service.

Almost 15 stalwarts of the Australian corporate landscape have been in conversation about assisting their internal legal counsel to provide services to Everyday Justice.

The free legal service has prioritised employment and workplace issues, tenancy, housing and eviction, credit, debt and bankruptcy, financial abuse, fines and infringements, human rights matters, public interest law matters, and climate change law matters as areas of focus.

Mr Geary said he expected the legal service would deal with a significant amount of domestic violence and employment law issues in its first year.

“We know there’s been a 30 per cent surge in requests for legal advice and assistance for domestic violence in the last nine months,” he said.

Mills Oakley CEO John Nerurker said the firm was well placed to apply the lessons learned during COVID-19 to the online free legal service.

“During the COVID lockdowns, Mills Oakley honed the skill of providing seamless client service remotely,” he said.

Australian Pro Bono Centre CEO Gabriela Christian-Hare welcomed the free legal service for vulnerable Australians.

“The charity will also help to build the next generation of lawyers committed to access to justice, the public good and community service through pro bono work,” she said.