New Not-For-Profit Legal Service

Background

Since its inception in 1994, PILCH has provided free legal assistance to eligible not-for-profit (NFP) organisations by leveraging the pro bono services of law firms, academics and barristers.

In a typical year, over 100 NFPs are referred for free assistance. These NFPs vary greatly in size and type. Many are very small and not well-known. The range of legal issues is also diverse, although there are some issues that are NFP-specific (eg, eligibility for concessional tax status, volunteers): for more information see NFPs assisted by PILCH. Aside from those matters that lead to a referral, help is given to more than another 200 organisations each year: eg, defining the nature of their issue and connecting them to other services.

PILCH, with assistance from its members, runs seminars on various legal and financial issues which arise in the course of a NFP’s day-to-day operation, such as governance, taxation and employment law. Any NFPs can attend these seminars: for more information see our NFP seminar page.

Research about a new service

Building on this experience, the PILCH 2006-2009 Strategic Plan envisages the increase of services to the NFP sector in recognition of the important role the sector plays in Australian society. In March 2007, the PILCH Board resolved to establish a new specialist legal service for NFPs

A detailed Research Report about the establishment of a new specialist NFP legal service is available, see Research Report. The Research Report reviews existing PILCH services; provides information on the NFP sector and the complex regulatory environment in which NFPs operate; looks at the need for new services and documents feedback from NFPs, members of PILCH and other stakeholders; considers current Victorian government reviews of the sector and other service models (Australian and overseas); proposes a new PILCH service delivery model.

Key objectives of the new service

1.      To provide NFP organisations with high quality, accessible, tailored, free and/or low-cost legal and legally-related:

·         information;

·         advice; and

·         training.

2.      To enhance the capacity and efficiency of the NFP sector by offering high quality legal and legally-related training and resources to those dealing with and providing services to NFP organisations and volunteers.

3.      To become a specialist hub of NFP legal and legally-related knowledge and practice.

4.      To engage in systemic advocacy and law reform in areas of relevance to the NFP sector.

5.      To provide access to pro bono specialist legal advice for eligible NFP organisations via the Public Interest Law Scheme that will continue to be administered by PILCH.

Timing

We have been successful in obtaining part funding (over 3 years) for the new service from The William Buckland Foundation. We are currently seeking matching funding from other sources. This page will be updated as further information about the new service is available.