Become a PILCH Supporter   Current Members    Benefits of Membership   Corporate Membership

Membership of PILCH demonstrates a tangible commitment to the provision and organisation of pro bono legal assistance. Through PILCH, pro bono work is coordinated in a systematic fashion and spread among interested parties across the Victorian legal profession, rather than offered on an ad-hoc basis by particular individuals. This coordinated approach promotes pro bono work as a legitimate component of everyday practice, rather than as an extra curricular activity to be done after hours.

We cannot do our public interest driven work without the support of the profession. We have been consistently encouraged by the increasing amount of pro bono work undertaken by law firms through PILCH and are aware of the personal satisfaction this affords both participating members and individuals.

PILCH staff receive and assess all inquiries before referring them to members. Members can be confident that the matters referred to them are both meritorious and genuinely in the public interest, ensuring that their pro bono efforts are well directed.

Only a small proportion of PILCH referrals are of a litigious nature. Many referrals involve the provision of legal advice or transactional work for not-for-profit community organisations which will assist them to pursue public interest objectives.

Naturally, members are under no obligation to accept referrals; PILCH members stipulate areas of law where they can contribute, and acceptance is usually based on a member's interest, expertise and the availability of resources to take on a particular matter.