Griffith Law School walks to raise money amid legal aid funding crisis

Griffith Law School staff and students joined other local lawyers in their support for the Queensland Legal Walk.
Held annually as part of National Law Week (this year held May 16 – 20), lawyers across Queensland walked simultaneously to raise funds for the Queensland Public Law Interest Clearing House.

This year’s funds will be used to support QPILCH’s Mental Health Law Practice, which provides free legal advice and assistance to people with mental illness who cannot afford a private lawyer.
Participants raised more than $43,000, to assist QPILCH provide its legal services to some of the most disadvantaged Australians in the community. This year’s funding more than doubles the money raised from last year.
While support for the annual Queensland Legal Walk has increased across the state, it takes place amid what the Law Council of Australia describes as a ‘funding crisis’ for legal aid.
The Law Council of Australia launched the Legal Aid Matters campaign during National Law Week, to call for a commitment from ‘whoever wins the election’ to greater funding for legal aid services across Australia.
The campaign has broad support from a range of legal industry bodies that are concerned that there is a real risk that without further funding ordinary Australians will be locked out of the justice system.
Law Council of Australia President Stuart Clark spoke to the ABC about what was at stake.
“Every time a person goes to court without legal representation, they’re at a real disadvantage,” he said.
“It could be in the family court, it could be in a criminal court, it could be in a civil court. We know the fact people are going to court unrepresented is an absolute tragedy. It is, quite simply destroying lives.”

Griffith Law School

Griffith Law School is one of the world’s top 100 law schools. Here, students gain all the legal skills to become an accomplished lawyer and have the opportunity to specialise the area of their choice.
The Bachelor of Laws (graduate entry) at Griffith Law School offers a professional legal curriculum that focuses on core areas of legal practice and the legal skills that lawyers must have. You will have the opportunity to choose law electives based on your interests, including clinical courses that emphasise practical legal skills, insights and experience.
Program: Bachelor of Laws
Location: Gold Coast or Brisbane, Queensland
Semester intake: February
Duration: 3 years

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