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What is the Public Interest Law Clearing House?

The Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) is an independent, not-for-profit legal referral service. It seeks to meet the legal needs of community groups/not-for-profit organisations, and individuals from disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds by facilitating their access to pro bono legal assistance from PILCH members. Its main role is to receive, assess and refer requests for pro bono legal assistance. PILCH aims to work creatively to match clients with lawyers willing to give their services without charge.

PILCH clients are individuals, community groups and not-for-profit organisations. Individual clients, who raise issues of public interest that require legal resolution, who satisfy legal merits and means tests and who are ineligible for legal aid, qualify for referral to a PILCH member.  The member then acts for the client on a pro bono basis.

Not-for-profit organisations with public interest objectives, or which provide services that are in the public interest, are also eligible for assistance. PILCH aims to support and enhance the work done for and on behalf of the community by such organisations, which typically function with limited resources, by providing access to quality legal services.

PILCH's membership represents the diversity of the Victorian legal profession and includes private law firms, the Victorian Bar, corporate legal departments, community legal centres, university law faculties and others in ancillary or related fields.  Members support PILCH in a variety of ways, including providing financial and 'in-kind' support, and by accepting referrals for legal assistance.

PILCH Services Brochure

PILCH Strategic Plan 2006-2009