Notice: Due to our current workload, unfortunately at this stage, we do not have the capacity to take on more pro-bono cases. We will update this space should our team member become available. We thank you for your understanding.

At Agape HenryCrux, we strongly believe that in order to maintain a society ruled by law, everyone must have access to legal/immigration representation and advice. A strong pro bono practice is at the centre of ensuring this fairness before the law, particularly with migration matters.

Migrating to Australia should be a pleasant experience, as there is the excitement of a new life, a new start and a new career in Australia. However, circumstances occasionally arise that implore members of the legal and migration professions to come to the assistance of those in need, who would be otherwise unable to afford or obtain legal assistance with their immigration matters. It is cases such as this that reinforce the importance of pro bono practice, from both a moral and professional standpoint. For this reason, for years we have provided pro bono aid to migrants who have nowhere else to turn.

If you have a need for immigration assistance that you cannot afford because of a disadvantage, please feel free to make an application with us for pro bono assistance by filling out the form on this page. Kindly note, our key focus area for pro bono practice are human rights. We please ask you to consider the needs of others and only apply if you genuinely require pro bono assistance.

Definition of Pro bono

In 1992 the Law Council of Australia developed the following definition of pro bono work:

Pro bono work is defined to include situations where:

1. A lawyer, without fee or without expectation of a fee or at a reduced fee, advises and/or represents a client in cases where:

   1. a client has no other access to the courts and the legal system; and/or

   2. the client’s case raises a wider issue of public interest; or

2. The lawyer is involved in free community legal education and/or law reform; or

3. The lawyer is involved in the giving of free legal advice and/or representation to charitable and community organisations.

It covers not only legal advice and representation but also law reform and community education. It is limited to work done by lawyers and does not cover some kinds of assistance that firms may perform and capture as part of their broader corporate sustainability programs, such as the work of non-legal staff and/or the provision of financial or in-kind assistance to community organisations (such as community legal centres and Public Interest Law Clearing Houses).

The definition includes free and reduced-fee services and services performed “without expectation of a fee”. Chris Arup analysed, the phrase “without expectation of a fee” and lists the following as its advantages:

• it excludes consideration of the difficult cases of conditional fee and contingency fee based services;

• it excludes speculative work where the underlying motivation is commercial gain, albeit at a risk; and

• it may possibly credit cases where the lawyer is taking a very real risk, essentially for the sake of the client.

agape henry crux - pro bono TEAM

Over the last decade, our lawyers have participated in a number of pro bono work, offering legal services to those who are disenfranchised and to non-for profit organisations. At present, these are our people who have volunteered their time to the greater cause:

TYPE OF PRO BONO WORK

Eligibility requirements

To meet the requirements for our pro bono services:

1. Time sensitive matter - we are unable to take on last minute instructions.

2. Financial difficulty vs expectations - you will be required to demonstrate that your expectations are realistic and that you experience genuine financial difficulties.

3. Honesty & integrity - to uphold the integrity of the migration program, we will are unable to accept clients who are not forthright and truthful.

4. You have been unsuccessful with Law Access, Legal Aid, RACS, Salvos Legal, and Community Legal Centres.

5. Availability - our pro bono team have other commitments and have set aside a portion of their schedules to pro bono cases. Their services are subject to their availability.

THE PROCESS: Taking the First Step

Agape Henry Crux is part of the Law Society Pro Bono Scheme. We encourage that applicants contact the Law Society at first instance and indicate a preference to choose our firm. To make an application:

Once the Law Society NSW assesses your application, you will be notified of the decision. For more information: https://www.lawsociety.com.au/pbs

THE STORIES OF THE LIVES WE’VE TOUCHED