For almost 20 years, PILCH (the Public Interest Law Clearing House) has facilitated the provision of pro-bono legal assistance to the community in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Minter Ellison lawyers have worked with PILCH in those states since the beginning.

Mitzi Gilligan, a partner in our Melbourne office, is the current President of PILCH in Victoria. An active participant in our pro-bono program since the day she joined Minter Ellison, Mitzi has been a regular volunteer at the Ozanam House outreach legal clinic run.

A key focus of Minter Ellison's pro-bono program is breaking cycles of disadvantage. Many not-for-profit organisations work with Indigenous people to help 'close the gap'. In Australia, Minter Ellison has provided pro-bono and other assistance to a range of Indigenous causes.

Minter Ellison's pro-bono legal work has a strong focus on assistance to homeless persons. In Australia, we provide outreach legal clinics for homeless people in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

"I've been involved with the Homeless Persons' Legal Clinic since I started at Minter Ellison because I feel I can give people a voice and access to the law where they would otherwise have none. My pro-bono legal work is a key contributor to my overall job satisfaction at Minter Ellison."
Noelia Boscana, Senior Associate, Minter Ellison

As part of our firm's commitment to 'breaking cycles of disadvantage' – particularly for young people – we work with students in the public education system to help them reach their full potential.

In Hong Kong, for example, we have worked closely with the Fresh Fish Traders' School to provide teaching assistance, book donations and financial support to students.

Minter Ellison has taken a clear stand against domestic violence as part of the firm's Community Investment Program. This focus, and an initiative pioneered by our firm in Brisbane, was recognised in 2005 with an Australian Prime Minister's Business-Community Partnership Award.