Attorney General John Quigley with PCLS chief executive Miranda Cecich, MinterEllison partner Lee Rossetto and family lawyer Jon Redman.
Veteran family lawyer Jon Redman won in the Individual category in honour of a long history of pro bono work dating back to 1982, when he helped establish the Sussex Street Community Law Service.
The award in the Not-For-Profit category went to the Pilbara Community Legal Service, which assists people across the region from the main population centres to remote communities.
MinterEllison received the Legal Firm Award for its work with a range of community service providers and not-for-profit organisations, contributing thousands of pro bono hours.
Attorney General John Quigley presented the three winners with their awards at the annual Law Week Breakfast today.
"It's a privilege to present these awards during Law Week to people and organisations that contribute to making the justice system more fair and equitable," Mr Quigley said.
"I congratulate and thank this year's winners, finalists and nominees for the valuable work that they do," Mr Quigley said.
This is the 15th time the awards have been staged.
Department of Justice Director General Dr Adam Tomison said: “These honours rightfully call attention to the legal work that is being provided for the public good in Western Australia.”
"Lawyers who give up their time to help vulnerable and disadvantaged people access the justice system set an excellent example for others to follow," Dr Tomison said.
Jon Redman
Jon Redman is a family lawyer who has been volunteering his services for about 40 years. In 1982 Mr Redman helped set up not-for-profit Sussex Street Community Law Service and pioneered a night legal service which to this day offers free advice on family law and civil matters to those who need it. He’s still on the roster at Sussex Street and also donates his time as a Minister-appointed independent visitor to Bandyup Women’s Prison.
Pilbara Community Legal Service
Pilbara Community Legal Service provides accessible, equitable, responsible, and culturally appropriate advice, support, and advocacy to the people of the Pilbara free of charge. The Service began in 1993 with a single office in Newman. It now has a team of 34 staff operating in South Hedland, Karratha, Roebourne and Newman. PCLS facilitates home visits and outreach services across the Pilbara region to isolated communities such as Marble Bar, Nullagine, Tom Price, Onslow and Jigalong.
MinterEllison
MinterEllison is Australia's biggest law firm and in WA has contributed thousands of hours of pro bono work to community service providers and not-for-profit organisations. It seconds lawyers to community legal centres and ensures that its junior lawyers spend one day a week for six months doing pro bono work. MinterEllison’s pro bono services in Perth in 2021 are projected to approximately double in hours and value from two years earlier.
