We are finalists for the Law Society of NSW’s Pro Bono Service Award!
Violet Co Legal & Consulting has been nominated as a finalist for the Law Society of New South Wales’ Pro Bono Service Award 2022! Congratulations to the Violet Co team for their outstanding efforts and dedication to pro bono clients and campaigns in FY22.
Violet Co is a hybrid legal and consulting practice and certified social enterprise with Social Traders; our practice is driven by the goal of creating meaningful impacts and positive social change. In particular, we aim to work with, and for, women and First Nations people to support them towards achieving their self-determined form of justice.
We are signatories to the Australian Pro Bono Centre’s National Pro Bono Target. This means that each financial year, we dedicate a significant portion of our time and resources to supporting clients who do not have the means to access the justice system. We also offer pro bono and discounted rates for our for-purpose clients who are charities or Social Enterprises themselves.
“At Violet Co we view pro bono legal services as a responsibility and obligation of us as legal practitioners. We count our contribution not so much in terms of hours spent - but results and systemic change we help support and achieve.” Karen Iles, Principal Solicitor
In FY22, this motivation enabled us to reach new heights in our pro bono work and deliver outstanding outcomes for our clients. For example,
In an employment matter, we helped an Aboriginal woman client who was unjustly terminated get reinstated in a promoted role in the same organisation, with the employer also committing to cultural safety through an Aboriginal cultural mentorship program within the organisation;
We assisted in the concept development of the new Trauma Recovery Centre within the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre;
We supported several victim-survivors of sexual assault with their victims services claims and/or pursuing legal action;
In another employment matter, we supported an Aboriginal woman client in publicly speaking out against workplace discrimination and pursuing negotiations with her employer;
In another employment matter, we supported an Aboriginal woman client to receive the payment of wages while she was on leave for experiencing discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
However, our pro bono work is not limited to purely legal matters. Our innovative approach to social impact includes partnerships for referrals and low bono work for both legal and consulting clients.
Using the National Pro Bono Target alone as a framework for pro bono work can be quite one dimensional and actually create harm. The Australian Pro Bono Centre’s 14th Annual Performance Report of the National Pro Bono Target from September 2021 recognised that less than half of the signatories met or exceeded the national target of 35 hours per lawyer per year.
If firms and practices do not make it a priority to implement wider structural reform that is designed to support pro bono work for its lawyers, as well as encourage a culture of commitment to pro bono work, it can be difficult for lawyers to contribute to the target.
At Violet Co, social impact is who we are and pro bono is a foundational pillar of the practice. We work both with and for individuals, businesses, and organisations wanting to make a positive impact for women and Indigenous Peoples.
As one of only two legal practices in Australia that is a certified Social Enterprise, we are constantly innovating and reimagining what a modern legal practice can look like and achieve by way of social justice. We have organised our business’ systems and culture around a social purpose, and over half of our profits are redistributed through our pro bono legal and consulting work to women, First Nations peoples and for-purpose not-for-profit organisations working with and for women and First Nations peoples.
“Pro bono work is a core element of the business and I am supported with all our practice resources and guided by the team’s expertise to manage our pro bono clients with diligence, professionalism and empathy. I am proud to work in an environment where social impact is at the heart of what we do.” – Rubsat Amin, Senior Paralegal, Violet Co Legal & Consulting.
We are dedicated to continuing this trend of accomplishing significant and impactful pro bono work throughout the years to come, to ensure that women and First Nations people in particular have more equitable access to justice.
Please get in touch if you would like to collaborate and support our pro bono program.
Written by Rubsat Amin.