Piddington’s new justice projects
On a bedrock of collegiality, we can take steps to advance access to justice.
The Piddington Society is guided by our Objects:
a) promote collegiality in the legal profession;
b) improve access to justice;
c) support entry into the profession by aspiring and junior lawyers; and,
d) provide legal education and training to aspiring and existing members of the legal profession.
These inform everything we do.
Each year, Piddington contributes thousands of dollars to expanding access to justice, primarily to the community legal sector.
This occurs from proceeds generated through our CPD and social events, including our conferences. Proceeds from these have typically gone to support Piddington PLT.
Piddington PLT is a wonderful project we are all proud of which supports graduate lawyers to complete their practical legal training in the community legal sector, with the course grounded in collegiality, justice and ethics. The things we all know matter to being good lawyers.
For some time, Piddington has been thinking about how else we can better support expanding access to justice.
As we all well know, access to justice is a critical issue that needs addressing. As lawyers, we recognise that our profession has a role to play in remedying this.
In consultation and discussion with the community legal sector, law schools, law students and the profession, the Committee of The Piddington Society resolved earlier this year to create two new justice projects: the Piddington Justice Fund and Kaartdijin.
The Piddington Justice Fund is for community legal centres to cover costs that otherwise would not be met. We will be making decisions about who is funded, but requests so far include covering costs for administrative and IT support, pilot projects to better work with clients and professional development.
Kaartdijin, the First Nations Legal Education Fund, is for first nations law and pre-law students to cover costs that come with studying law, like text books, attendance at conferences and grants to facilitate work experience at community legal centres. We are thankful for the guidance of Melissa Dinnison, Kim Farmer, Kelsi Forrest and George Hayden with the support of Nick Malone, Katherine Swann and Briony Whyte in the creation of this project.
These new projects can only exist because of the support of the profession.
Your attendance at Piddington events is what enables us to make these contributions.
Each time you come to a Piddington event, whether that is a CPD session or conference, Dennis Does Dog Walking, our ball or any other social event, proceeds are directed to our access to justice initiatives.
The establishment and success of these projects and Piddington more broadly can only occur off the back of the support of the profession.
We thank you for your ongoing support to join us in advancing collegiality and access to justice.
Details for both projects are available on Piddington’s website and questions can be directed to pidsoc@pidsoc.org.au
