Pro Bono

Bell Gully is a strong supporter of the community - sharing time, skills and financial support with those in need.

One way we do this is through our pro bono programme. Over many years we have made major pro bono contributions to a wide range of individuals and organisations. Among them are Plunket, the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation, Parents Inc, First Foundation, Leadership New Zealand and the Salvation Army.

In 2009 we formalised our pro bono programme, which is overseen by a Committee of six partners and four senior associates.

We have established criteria to help ensure our pro bono programme reaches those who need it most, with our focus on enhancing access to justice for those who cannot afford to pay for it and to promote the public interest in cases where an individual or group has no other feasible means of gaining access to the legal system.

Our pro bono work falls into three categories:

• Free, for clients who would otherwise be denied access to justice because they have no means to pay for it.
• Discounted, for non-government and charitable organisations with funding and other support from third parties.
• Free or discounted, for limited art, culture, heritage, sports and recreation groups and individuals who merit pro bono support.

When Bell Gully was awarded The Community Service in Law Award at the 2010 Law awards, we were seen as a stand-out performer with respect to our pro bono work.

If you are seeking pro bono assistance for a matter that meets this criteria and have no other means of legal assistance available, please email our pro bono programme manager Rachel Gowing.

Our pro bono programme in action:

Community law centres
We provide lawyers to give free legal advice at the Grey Lynn Neighbourhood Law Office and the Waitakere Community Law Service in Auckland and at the Wellington Community Law Centre (CLC). The offices provide a much-valued service to those in the community without the means to pay, assisting with a wide range of issues including employment, consumer credit and tenancy matters. We have lawyers seconded to both offices one day a week, as well as providing additional support for evening clinics, and as the need arises in Auckland. We also invite law centre employees to participate in our in-house training sessions and to take advantage of legal research skills training, and provide mentors to the lawyers at the Grey Lynn centre.

In addition to this, when it was time for all 26 CLCs to re-negotiate their funding agreements with the Legal Services Agency, Bell Gully agreed to represent them on a pro bono basis and secured the ongoing funding of New Zealand's community law centres.

Parents and families
We provide pro bono advice and discounts on fees to organisations working to support New Zealand's parents and families, including Plunket and Parents Inc.

New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation
Bell Gully is a strategic partner of the foundation, supporting its work in breast cancer education and awareness. Senior associate Colleen Cavanagh is a member of the foundation's board and we have provided free and discounted advice on a range of issues to assist the foundation's work and to allow it to focus on helping women with breast cancer and their families.

Habitat for Humanity
A not-for-profit organisation working in partnership with people of goodwill and families in housing need, Habitat for Humanity aims to eliminate sub-standard housing by building, renovating and selling simple, decent houses on an affordable basis. We have supported Habitat for Humanity for several years by providing pro bono legal advice.

Bangladesh climate change issues
We have been working with the Bangladesh Parliament to provide advice on climate change, and in particular human rights issues that arise. The people of Bangladesh have long been vulnerable to flooding and natural disasters and are now facing further significant risks from the effects of climate change.

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