ANNUAL REPORT 2003 >Contents

President’s Message and Executive Director’s Message...... 2

Board and Staff...... 3

Grants...... 4

Access to Justice ...... 10

Publications...... 12 Our priority principles upport for best practice...... 15 Ten priority principles guide what we fund, publish, support S and undertake. Financial Reports...... 17 The Foundation is interested in 1. Innovation and practicality-ideas that translate into sustainable, practical solutions 2. Partnerships and collaborations-to build expertise and learning 3. Multipurpose-to realise a number of Foundation statutory objects 4. Mixing and matching constituencies-to provide benefi ts to all 5. Wide and/or deep impact-of public benefi t outcomes 6. Maximising resources-effi cient use of resources, to do ‘more with less’ 7. Accountability and evaluation-of processes and outcomes in line with the mandate and values of the Foundation 8. Balancing short term needs with long term legacy work-necessary one-off, moment-in-time projects coupled with projects that can make a lasting contribution 9. Public benefi t best practice-leadership 10. The ‘But for’ test-essential work which ‘but for’ the Foundation cannot, or would not, be undertaken

Our work

Victoria Law Foundation is a dynamic, innovative organisation geared to meet changing community needs. The Foundation fi lls GAPS in existing services through four key areas of activity.

Grants Access to Justice Publications Support for Best Practice We provide funding for, as We undertake projects, We produce and support We promote and enhance well as broker innovative law alone and in partnership the provision of legal public benefi t best practice and justice projects. with others, to promote information resources in among the legal profession, equitable access to justice plain language for Victorian legal institutions and the for all Victorians. communities. not-for-profi t sector.

1 >President’s Message >Executive Director’s Message

Upon appointment, by reason of various statutory As the new incumbent of this position I am delighted to provisions, the Chief Justice of Victoria becomes Chair join with the talented staff at the Foundation to build upon of the Judicial College of Victoria, the Council of Legal the achievements of this highly regarded public benefi t Education and President of the Victoria Law Foundation. organisation. I feel fortunate indeed to have commenced my tenure under the guidance of our committed President A combination of dedicated, effi cient staff of these of twelve years, Chief Justice John Harber Phillips AC. bodies, together with challenging agendas, make these appointments interesting additions to the Chief Justice’s We were pleased to have a chance to publicly farewell the duties rather than onerous tasks. Thus have I found the Chief Justice at a very memorable night in September. The Presidency of the Victoria Law Foundation. Justice Cabaret, showcasing the depth of talent across our sector, simultaneously served as a fundraiser for the The year under review has been a memorable one for National Trust’s Justice Museum. All those present were me. The Foundation has continued to maintain its position privileged to witness the Chief Justice’s moving ‘swan song’. as the premier publisher in Australia of practical legal On behalf of the members of our Board, staff and the many literature. friends of the Foundation, I take this opportunity to record The standard of Law Week of this year manifestly more formally our sincere appreciation to the Chief Justice surpassed that of all previous occasions of this sort. I am for his leadership and tireless support of our work over the very proud that the Foundation played such a signifi cant years. We wish him every success in his many new ventures. part in achieving this result. The highlight for me was Launching Our GAPS program the now traditional “Open Day”. In all my years as Chief Justice no experience has moved me as much as these The Foundation remains committed to using its opportunities for direct oral reporting to the public and independence and organisational fl exibility to address answering their questions about the justice system. unmet community needs. Our wide-ranging activities span four key program areas: Grants (G), Access to Justice I leave the Foundation with mixed emotions. Confi dence (A), Publications (P) and Support for best practice (S) all and satisfaction that it will go on from strength to strength. of which capitalise on a long record of innovation at the Regret that such a pleasing assignment has come to an Foundation. The GAPS program is designed to create a end. fairer, more responsive justice system. But, as the noble Horace has written At a time of greater fi nancial restraint by government, we have “But what has been, has been, and I have had my hour”. resolved to dramatically increase our grants budget. Access (Ode iii. 29) to justice initiatives, such as our Legal Artifacts and Resources for Schools (LARKS) project as well as the rejuvenation of Law Week (in collaboration with the Law Institute of Victoria) underscore the importance of community legal education for people at all stages of the lifecycle. The work of the Pro Bono Secretariat at the Foundation acknowledges the complex matrix of legal services now necessary to meet diverse legal needs. Our award winning plain language John Harber Phillips AC publications continue to inform the community and also Chief Justice and President of Victoria Law Foundation underpin the advice and support we provide to other agencies about how best to deliver legal information to their constituencies. Expert advice, project management, clearinghouse functions and marketing support are just some of the services provided by the Foundation to the community legal and not-for-profi t sectors. More generally, we generate, and are also the fi rst port of call, for new ideas about ways of improving the quality of justice. Throughout this year, we have also continued the signifi cant, but less visible, work of brokering and developing relationships and projects which link the legal community, government, not-for-profi t and public benefi t sectors. Working with legal professionals from across the whole of the sector, the Foundation is committed to modelling, promoting and supporting best practice standards and outcomes for the benefi t of the Victorian community, particularly its most vulnerable members. Always responsive to changing community needs, the Foundation is currently engaged in a major review of all aspects of our work. Our 2002-5 Strategic Plan has set the goal of ‘becoming, and being acknowledged as, a model public benefi t organisation’. As this Annual Report amply attests, we are well on the way to achieving this ambitious three year objective. Chief Justice singing at the Justice Cabaret

Professor Kathy Laster Executive Director

2 >Board

Ex Offi cio The Honourable Justice John Harber Phillips AC, Chief Justice of Victoria (President) The Honourable Rob Hulls MP represented by Ms Elizabeth Eldridge, Deputy Secretary, Legal and Policy, Department of Justice The President of the Law Institute of Victoria Mr David Faram (to Mar 2003) Mr Bill O’Shea (from Mar 2003) The Chairman of the Victorian Bar Council represented by Mr Phillip Dunn QC (to 12 Sep 2002) represented by Ms Kim Knights (from 13 Sep 2002)

Nominated by the Chief Justice Joady Donovan, Prof David Wexler, visting Senior Fulbright Fellow, Richard Coverdale and Mr Victor Borg AM Julie Van Dort, author of ‘The Complete Guide to the Law and Managing Bodies Corporate’ Ms Alexandra Richards QC Mr Kevin Lyons >Staff Nominated by the Attorney-General Mr Jon Faine (to 17 Sep 2002) Professor Kathy Laster Executive Director (from Oct 2002) The Honourable Haddon Storey QC Mr Richard Coverdale Nominated by the Law Institute of Victoria Director of Publishing Mr Frank Paton (to 17 Dec 2002) Ms Joady Donovan Ms Eugenia Mitrakas OAM Marketing and Public Relations Manager Mr Mark Woods Aileen Duke Ms Victoria Strong (from Dec 2002) Project Manager (Teacher Release to Industry Program, TRIP from 30 Jan 2003) Co-opted Ms Pamela Grellet Mr Frank Paton (from Dec 2002) Publishing Administrator

Executive Services Subgroup Ms Maria McGarvie Grants Manager (from 16 Jun 2003) The President The Honourable Haddon Storey QC Ms Beverley Paterson Offi ce Manager Mr Frank Paton Ms Alexandra Richards QC Mr Chris Adams Administrative Support Grants Subgroup Mr Victor Borg AM Temporary staff Mr Kevin Lyons Ms Kristin Giles Ms Eugenia Mitrakas OAM Special Projects Offi cer (seconded from Victorian Parliament Law Reform Committee from 28 Jan to Projects Subgroup 14 Mar 2003) Mr Jon Faine (to 17 Sep 2002) Ms Carol Ransley Mr David Faram (to Mar 2003) Project Offi cer (seconded from Equal Opportunity Mr Bill O’Shea (from Mar 2003) Commission of Victoria from 25 Mar to 20 Jun 2003) Ms Kim Knights (from 13 Sep 2002) Mr Mark Woods Farewell to staff Ms Margaret Camilleri Project Offi cer, Pro Bono Secretariat and Grants Manager (to 28 Feb 2003) Ms Annie Woodger Deputy Director (on maternity leave to Nov 2002, seconded to Department of Justice from Dec 2002 to May 2003, resigned 28 May 2003)

Beverley Paterson and Aileen Duke at the Legal Reporting Awards 2003

3 >Grants

Refl ect, take stock, review, renew and develop. The Grants The notable features of our new look Grants program program has seen it all this year. A key plank of the vision include: of the Foundation as identifi ed in the Strategic Plan 2003- 5 is that the Foundation will act as a consultant, advisor, 1. An increase in the level of Grants awarded to around catalyst and incubator of ideas about the legal profession, $250,000 annually (subject to the constraints of our the law, the legal system and the administration of justice. own funding) To realise that vision we needed amongst other things, 2. The introduction of a Community Legal Centre a pro active and facilitative grants program. The grants Fellowship for dedicated public interest lawyers program review was begun. to provide them with time-release to undertake a Under the guidance of members of the Board’s Grants designated project free from the pressures of high Subgroup, an extensive Review of the Grants program was case loads. With the support of the universities, this completed in early 2003. Many of the 22 recommendations project should allow time for refl ection and the sharing have been progressively implemented during the year. of experience as well as some much needed skill development 3. Integration of the Grants program into other Foundation activities including the development of specifi c Legal Information Grants to allow the award of fi nancial assistance to be coupled with project management/consultancy services to organisations seeking to provide targeted legal information to their constituencies 4. Streamlining of the grants application process and the development of plain language, user-friendly pro forma application forms (including suggested budget line items) to assist applicants in the effi cient completion of their applications. 5. Provision of community development support to would- be applicants to refi ne and evaluate their projects, as well as advice and training on grant-getting, and more generally clearinghouse and brokerage services. The New grants program is now comprised of three types of grants, Small Grants, Legal Information Grants and Open Grants

Small Grant Women’s Legal Service. Margaret Camilleri and Carol Ransley at the launch of ‘Girls Own 4’

Small Grant Women’s Legal Service. Allyson Foster, Women’s Legal Service, Prof Kathy Laster and The Hon Jacinta Allan MP, Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs at the launch of ‘Girls Own 4’

4 Small Grants

Small grants (up to $3,000) awarded at the discretion of the Executive Director, can be applied for at any time. The application process is intended to be quick and informal with this limited amount of money ideally being used to undertake feasibility work to determine whether or not a proposed project is likely to be effective. Success of these projects will likely lead to more thoroughly developed open grant applications. Delivering funds to a wide group of applicants in an effi cient way is a priority for the Foundation and the Small Grant is a useful tool in assisting organisations in the time consuming work of planning major Small Grant Lawyers for Forests. Prof Kathy Laster, Vanessa Bleyer and Anna Stewart at launch projects.

Small Grant Monash Law Students Association web page

Small Grant recipients Purpose Granted

Research Project on the life of Chief Justice Stawell. Paid 02/03 Dr John Bennett $1,455 $1,406 Card for drug users outlining their legal rights and distribution by St Kilda Legal Service $2,460 the Drug Users Outreach program Updating and Editing of the pamphlet, ‘Sexual Assault, The Law, Brimbank Community Legal Centre $3,000 Your Rights’ Launch updated edition of ‘Girls Own 4’, a legal information and Women’s Legal Service $731 resource book for young women Develop ‘Traffi c Light’ website directing law students to community Monash Law Students Association $500 organisations seeking volunteers. Paid 02/03 $500 Launch renovated ‘dungeons’ at Supreme Court as historical and Supreme Court Victoria $3,000 legal experience for Law Week Seed funding to develop a new edition ‘Guide to Informed Giving’ Asia Pacifi c Centre for Philanthropy a booklet for practitioners and public engaged in estate planning $3,000 and bequests Print and distribute ‘Forest Friendly Law Firm Kit’ providing legal Lawyers for Forests $2,702 fi rms with practical ways of conserving paper and other resources Develop a pilot training, clinical legal education unit for Monash Monash University, Law Faculty $2,837 Law students to assist prisoners on remand with court readiness Archiving project encompassing the personal legal holdings of National Trust, Victoria $3,000 members of the legal profession

5 Legal Information Grants

The Grants program and the Publications arm of the Foundation are mutually supportive. An application for a grant may involve the production of a brochure, book or increasingly videos and CD-roms. Many important publications have been initially funded through the Grants program. Because we have the benefi t of a substantial publications division we are able to assist grant applicants in accessing the best printers and in promoting their productions. Examples of this collaboration can be found in the production of the book ‘Blood From Stone’-the genesis for this publication was a grant made to the Welfare Rights Unit and the then Legal Aid Commission. The new compact disk ‘Taking Care-Law for Human Services’ is a guide to two key areas of law, Duty of Care and Privacy and Confi dentiality, will answer many issues and concerns that have been raised by grant applicants.

Legal Information Project Purpose Granted Grants Federation Press Everyday Law Update, publish and distribute a national publication for Repayable secondary students, ‘Everyday Law’ at a cost affordable subsidy to the target audience. $9,091 Environment Environmental Mind Produce and distribute an accessible guide to $7,773 Defenders Offi ce Map environmental planning legislation in Victoria for Victoria practitioners and members of the public. Australian Law Finding the Law Develop an online resource based on existing training, $17,250 Librarians Group (Online) for public librarians and community-based professions Victoria on fi nding the law and legally related library materials. Mental Health Review Process of Civil In association with the Mental Health Review Board an $18,182 Board Victoria Commitment Video educational, training video will be produced about the process of civil commitment and the rights of involuntary patients.

6 Open Grants

The range of new grants refl ects the Foundation’s aim to In line with a recommendation from the review of the support ideas and projects that might otherwise languish Grants program, an allocation of funds is being made but for the fi nancial assistance provided by the Foundation. towards the development of a Community Legal Centre As an independent body we have greater fl exibility in Fellowship which is to be promoted late in 2003 for meeting emerging needs. implementation in the second half of the 2004 academic year. Promotion of the grants program is vital to ensure that the best applications are supported. The Foundation has been The Fellowship will pay for ‘time release’ from case work working to increase its profi le in the philanthropic sector for appropriately qualifi ed community sector workers to a and developing networks to promote collaboration. Our university or other agency so that the fellow may undertake membership of Philanthropy Australia has been recently a research project leading to a concrete public benefi t confi rmed. outcome-fulfi lling another Foundation aim, to provide a facilitative and supportive grants scheme providing support So that the Foundation can deliver assistance to a broad for the community legal sector. number of applicants it cannot fund ‘core’ activities nor will it fund associated recurrent expenses beyond the The Chief Justice’s Victoria Law Foundation Medal for implementation and establishment phase of innovative Excellence and Community Service has been established programs and services. and the inaugural award will be made to the successful fi nal year law graduate in 2003.

Open Grants Project Purpose Granted

Welfare Rights Unit ‘Blood From Stone’ WRU and the then Legal Aid Commission fi rst published $21,246 (WRU) this guide to defending Social Security Prosecutions and Overpayments in 1992, this repayable subsidy has been provided to allow for an update and re-publication of the book. Liberty Victoria Archives Project In partnership with University of Melbourne Archives, $9,091 an extensive range of Liberty Victoria documents will be archived for the public record and future study. Western Suburbs Child Protection Research and write a booklet in plain English on legal and $20,635 Legal Service Booklet for Parents child protection issues for diverse audiences of parents and Carers and carers. Law Institute of Update of Careers This project is concerned with updating of an existing $12,410 Victoria Video education video on legal careers for secondary school students. Paid 02/03 $3,583 Youthlaw and Victoria Victorian Secondary Development of teacher resources for a young people’s $9,091 Legal Aid School Teachers Kits publication ‘Am I Old Enough’, involving research, writing, on Youth Rights testing and instructional design. Offi ce of Public Enduring Powers of Research on the uptake of enduring powers of attorney $25,243 Advocate and Rotary Attorney Project in Victoria and planning community education strategies International around the results. Victoria Legal Aid & Teacher’s Resources Research and develop a teacher’s kit for secondary school $9091 Youthlaw on Young People’s teachers, peer educators and CLC workers on legal issues Rights for youth with a focus on relevant information/issues in school curriculum objectives in Studies of Society and Environment. Supreme Court Chief Justice’s To promote public benefi t ideals in the next generation $10,000 Library of Victoria Victoria Law of lawyers. A medal will be awarded for excellence in Foundation Medal academic performance and community service to a fi nal for Excellence & year law student. A corpus will be invested by the Supreme Community Service Court Library and the interest will fi nance this annual medal. Community Legal Community Legal To assist the community legal sector, this award will be $50,000 Sector Centre Fellowship the fi rst annual fellowship awarded through a competitive application round which will provide a community legal centre worker (with relevant qualifi cations) time release to research a policy gap that has been identifi ed in their case work and advocacy.

7 Completed Grant ‘Patients Rights in the Criminal Justice System’. Completed Grant ‘For Names Sake’ Jelena Popovic, Deputy Chief Magistrate launches booklet.

Ongoing Grant Project Purpose Granted Projects Centre for ‘Landing on Your Feet’ Develop an information booklet for newly arrived refugees $35,550 Multicultural Youth Training program and immigrants, aged 14-25 years, explaining Australia’s Issues legal system and particular laws that young people frequently encounter. The booklet will be used by the organisation in peer mediation. Refugee and Fact Sheet Kit A series of information leafl ets answering frequently asked $6,825 Immigration Legal questions (FAQs). These fact sheets will describe, step- Centre (RILC) by-step, the process criteria and tips for certain kinds of applications, including protection visas, temporary refugee visas, offshore refugee and special humanitarian program and domestic violence provisions. Paid 02/03 $3,272 Geelong Community Clinical Legal GCLS has been granted funds to develop a clinical $26,985 Legal Centre (GCLS) Education Program legal education program in conjunction with Werribee Community Legal Service, Western Suburbs Legal Service and Deakin University Law School. Paid 02/03 $26,985 Community Legal Information This joint project has funded a wide range of legal $15,900 Information Whittlesea Sessions information sessions targeting specifi c ethnic groups and and Broadmeadows providing information on areas of law including, probate Community Legal and wills in Italian, Macedonian and Chinese; family law, Service in Arabic and Turkish; immigration law in Tamil, Sinhalese, Serbian and Croation. paid 02/03 $2,847 Women’s Legal “Girls Own 4 – Young The redesign, based on focus group evaluations, and Service Women’s Legal printing of 2,000 ‘new look’ copies of a publication for $14,292 Rights Magazine” young women aged between 14–21 years. paid 02/03 $14,301

8 Completed Grants 02/03 Project Purpose Granted Victoria University of Establish Small Business To pilot the establishment of a legal service as part of the clinical legal $25,000 Technology Legal Service in Western education program to complement the fi rst year of LLB program. It was Region of Melbourne not possible to establish a permanent facility. AMIDA and Reinforce, Rights in Residence A legal education kit and peer education training specifi cally for people $17,733 advocacy for people with Project with an intellectual disability who reside in institutions. Paid 02/03 intellectual disability $1,236 Consumer Law Centre Consumer Audit of Fair This grant will assist in the auditing of traders’ compliance with $4,650 Victoria Trading Act provisions contained in the Fair Trading Act 1999 and the Trade Practices Act 1974. The results of the survey will be presented to the Dept of Consumer Affairs. Paid 02/03 $4,650 The Legal Centre, For Names Sake Provide a short and informative guide to the law relating to the $2,329 Community Connections, changing of family names. Paid 02/03 $402 Warrnambool RMIT Union Arts & Union Art as Activism – Arts Law These two groups will present Arts Law Week, a free program of legal $4,560 Legal Service Week information designed to inform and empower Melbourne’s emerging arts practitioners. An invitation is extended to all the arts, activist and legal communities to listen, question and debate. A forum of artists/ lawyers will provide relevant legal assistance. Paid 02/03 $4,560 Southport Community Aged Care Outreach The centre will use the grant to edit, copy and distribute videotapes $7,340 Legal Centre Program that were recorded at an Aged Care Conference. The videos will be used in conjunction with workshops as a learning tool to highlight the legal issues arising at the Conference. Paid 02/03 $1,205 Mental Health Legal Patients Rights in the Research the information needs of people with a mental illness in the $22,012 Centre Criminal Justice System criminal justice system and produce a booklet explaining the system, and the role, rights and responsibilities of all of those involved in the system. Paid 02/03 $749 Disability Discrimination Parenting, Disability and DDLS and Yooralla will develop and deliver a training package aimed $16,248 Legal Service (DDLS) and the Law at improving the administration of child protection orders involving Yooralla parents who have a disability. Paid 02/03 $1,353 Werribee Legal Service Youth Employment and 10,000 wallet-sized cards targeting young people and containing $2,000 Welfare Rights Card information and referral points in the areas of welfare and employment. Paid 02/03 $1.920 The Federation of CLC Funding Project Staging forum to bring community legal centres and potential funders $5,459 Community Legal Centres together. Paid 02/03 $707 (Vic) inc WIRE: Women’s Update and Reprint of Update and reprint series of information pamphlets on topics including $8,572 Information and Referral Information for Women in domestic violence, sexual assault, leaving your partner, counselling Exchange Print & Online and fi nancial security. Paid 02/03 $7,792 Law Institute of Victoria A Guide to the Law for Publication principally dealing with the areas of law in which sexual $39,495 and the Gay and Lesbian Gay and Lesbian People orientation makes a difference. Includes situations of discrimination, Rights Lobby privacy, police and offences against the person, property ownership, inheritance, incapacity, immigration, health, superannuation and social security entitlements. Paid 02/03 $401.82

Completed Grant ‘Update and Reprint of Information for Women in Print and Online’. The Hon Mary Delahunty, Minister for Women’s Affairs and Alexandra Richards QC speak at the launch.

9 >Access to Justice

There are both direct and indirect ways to promote access The extensive calendar of Law Week events, published to justice. While Law Week activities provided exposure to as a lift-out in the EG section of The Age newspaper, was law for ordinary people, the Pro Bono Secretariat (Voluntas) playfully handed out to passengers arriving at Flagstaff at the Foundation developed a number of initiatives Station by law student ‘spruikers’ with more than an to support access to justice including acknowledging academic interest in the pleasures of life in the law. the contributions made by individual practitioners. The Foundation takes a long term view of access to justice. The public seemed well disposed to learning about law For example our Legal Policy Student Internship scheme, in the more relaxed framework afforded by Law Week piloted this year, is intended to develop a commitment to and took full advantage of opportunities to see justice, in public interest outcomes among the next generation of various guises, at work. We will build on the success of legal professionals. Law Week 2003 in the future to accommodate the high level of community interest in law, the legal profession and Law Week 2003 legal institutions. This year the Foundation was pleased to rejuvenate Law Pro Bono Initiatives Week as a way of allowing all Victorians, of various ages and with varying interests to engage with law on their own To mark the 30th Anniversary of the Community Legal terms. In collaboration with the Law Institute of Victoria Centre movement in Victoria, the Foundation joined with we coordinated and developed a rich program for the the Law Institute of Victoria to host a celebration during Melbourne CBD, outer metropolitan areas and some the CLC Annual Conference in June. We also took this country regions. Highlights included: opportunity to launch our ‘Distinguished Pro Bono Service Awards’ to long serving volunteers at Legal Centres. • lectures, talks and exhibitions on legal topics for the Certifi cates of achievement were presented by the general public as well as high school students Attorney-General, The Hon Rob Hulls MP to 23 people from 11 centres across Victoria, including his dad, Frank Hulls. • open days at various courts including a popular ‘question and answer’ session by the Chief Justice at The Foundation also launched the CLC Honour Roll to the Supreme Court be signed by early pioneers and workers in the CLC movement in Victoria. Once complete, this historic record • exhibitions of art work in courts and public libraries will be presented to the National Trust as part of its Justice • performances by school children of a play by the Chief Museum collection. Justice, ‘ Murder at Blue Hills’ • ‘So you want to be a lawyer’ careers talks for high school students • the opening of the renovated Supreme Court dungeons coupled with a ‘legal tour’ of the Old Melbourne Cemetery

Victoria Law Foundation Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award winners with the Attorney-General

10 Law Help: Referral Resource One of the greatest inhibitors to access to justice was the lack of a central referral directory of free sources of legal advice and support. The Foundation therefore published Law Help, a 76 page guide distributed widely to community referral agencies. The web download version of the guide has become a key resource for not-for-profi t organisations and other agencies looking to assist their clients with law related matters. The Foundation Pro Bono Secretariat (Voluntas) About 4 times each year, the Foundation convenes a meeting of the Pro Bono Coordinators at major law fi rms. These occasions provide an independent forum for the discussion of policy developments and practical Law Week 2003, Legal Aid stand at the Victoria Market issues associated with improving pro bono practice. On behalf of the group, the Pro Bono Secretariat prepared a submission to the Attorney-General on the pro bono • review of the Children and Young Person’s Act, obligations for Tenders for Government Legal Work and • Senate Inquiry into Legal Aid and Access to Justice, has provided policy advice on a range of issues including the Government’s Secondee Scheme, the Senate Inquiry • review of the Disability Services Act, into Legal Aid and Access to Justice and the program for the 2nd National Pro Bono Law Conference. • patterns in the use of Enduring Powers of Attorney, On two occasions the Director of the National Pro Bono as well as the updating of our publication, ‘The Jurors Resource Centre, based in Sydney, visited Melbourne Handbook’, and funding applications for various public as a guest of the Foundation. Throughout the year, the policy projects. We look forward to expanding this legal Foundation worked collaboratively with the national centre education initiative designed to enhance the capacity of on the development of the ‘Pro Bono Good Practice public benefi t agencies to meet ever pressing workloads Manual’ which was launched at the 2nd National Pro Bono and deadlines. Perhaps more importantly, we are confi dent Law Conference in 2003. The Executive Director of the that the leaders of tomorrow who take part in the scheme Foundation, as well as Board member Alexandra Richards are imbued with a sense of community service and public QC, both serve on the Advisory Council for the Centre. benefi t thinking which augurs well for access to justice in the future. The Pro Bono column in the Law Institute Journal, initiated by the Foundation to bring pro bono activities to the attention of the profession, is now a well established monthly column coordinated, and often authored, by the Foundation. The Foundation has been pleased to support international pro bono initiatives undertaken by other organisations, Thus in December 2002 we were pleased to host a visit by a delegation from Malaysia. The Foundation successfully applied for a Fulbright Fellowship to bring Professor Esther Lardent, President of the US Pro Bono Institute in Washington, to Australia in late 2003. The Foundation is frequently asked to act as a broker for not-for-profi t organisations seeking assistance in areas other than pro bono case work. Our strong connections in the sector have enabled us, for example, to arrange for provision of material support including the use of law fi rm facilities by community organisations, sponsorships for Private Lives booklet launch speaker Beth Wilson, Health Services Commissioner events, donations of equipment and involvement of law fi rm staff in non-legal corporate citizenship activities.

Public Policy Internships The Legal Policy Student Internship Scheme, piloted by the Foundation this year, recruits, selects and trains law students to work for a period of 20 days in various agencies such as the Offi ce of the Public Advocate, the Victorian Law Reform Commission and the Victorian Council of Social Services as well as at the Foundation itself. The maturity, commitment and enthusiasm of the 15 young law students we selected for winter and summer placements afforded these agencies much needed research and administrative support while simultaneously offering these talented young people a chance to acquire hands-on skills in public policy practice. Projects completed by our students under Foundation supervision Private Lives booklet launch speakers and project partners: The Hon included, submissions on the: Rob Hulls MP Attorney-General, Prof Kathy Laster, Paul Chadwick, Privacy Commissioner and Beth Wilson, Health Services Commissioner.

11 >Publications The Foundation publishes practical, plain language law in New Releases an engaging format. Our publications provide information to a broad range of Victorians, which would not otherwise The Complete Guide to Managing Bodies Corporate be provided by commercial or academic publishers. With the success of the booklet ‘Common Ground-Your The demand for our publications is best illustrated by Guide to Body Corporate Law and Living’ and the growing the production and distribution of over 300,000 books, demand for more detailed information, the Foundation booklets, manuals, kits, CD-rom and videos over the determined to produce a comprehensive manual which 2002-3 reporting period. The relevance and usability of our explains in plain language ‘best practice’ body corporate publications is evidenced by continuing demand, with over management. Published at the end of this reporting period, half of the publications printed this year being revised and in an environment where concern around bodies corporate updated editions. and their administration are growing, it is anticipated that there will be signifi cant demand for this user friendly manual.

‘This book will be of tremendous assistance to body corporate managers and interested individuals. It is simple and concise but it does contain a lot of useful information.’ Mr John Lenders MP, Minister for Consumer Affairs.

‘an invaluable tool for both body corporate managers and residents’ Law Institute Journal, Nov 2003

Private Lives Privacy Booklet In mid 2002 having developed a project proposal, the Foundation was commissioned by Privacy Victoria and the Health Services Commissioner to produce ‘Private Lives-Your Guide to Privacy Law in Victoria’. Developed in conjunction with these organisations and following an extensive consultation process, ‘Private Lives’ was launched by the Attorney-General in March 2003. 50,000 booklets were distributed to 500 key agencies throughout Victoria. The Complete Guide to the Law and Managing Bodies Corporate book launch outside Melbourne’s most famous Body Corporate as seen in ‘The Secret Life of Us’: Cr David A web version of the booklet was also developed by the Brand, City of Port Phillip, John Lenders MP, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Julie Van Dort, Foundation and this is made available from our site with author and Helen Buckingham MP the additional feature of a step-by-step section to assist organisations ‘How to Produce a Privacy Policy’. ‘The Victoria Law Foundation’s booklet is a welcome contribution in informing consumers about their rights. Written in plain language, it is accessible, informative and empowering.’ Beth Wilson, Health Services Commissioner

Law Help Directory This free-to-user directory details the low cost, free and Pro Bono legal service providers throughout Victoria and gives advice about eligibility criteria and application details where they exist. Produced and distributed by the Foundation in late 2002 the directory is also available as a web download from the Foundation web site. The directory aims to ensure that referrals to low cost and free legal centres and Pro Bono services are well targeted. Most legal services have eligibility criteria which must be met before a client is eligible to use the service. Where possible, these criteria are included in the directory and will assist community workers to refer clients to the most appropriate agency, thus reducing duplication of service and inconvenience to clients

12 Revised Editions and Reprints Publishing leadership and support

Common Ground Booklet Reprint Sharing expertise and resources The production of the booklet ‘Common Ground’ in The publishing expertise of the Foundation is much 2001, commissioned by the Department of Infrastructure, sought after by community organisations, government, assisted in raising an awareness of the rights and educational organisations and industry groups. These responsibilities of body corporate members. Demand groups have substantive knowledge of issues in their area for the publication soon resulted in requests for a reprint but lack the knowledge, capacity and contacts to effi ciently following the distribution of the initial 50,000 copies. publish. Advice and assistance is provided on all aspects of production including writing, editing, design and printing Following a successful submission to the Estate Agents or production, in a variety of formats. Guarantee Fund, a further 90,000 booklets together with a poster promoting the booklet were printed and distributed The publishing program provides an anchor that to 800 Victorian Real Estate Agents and Consumer Affairs supports our grant-making function. About a third of Victoria Offi ces. all grant applications the Foundation receives are for legal information projects. The applicant organisations Funds provided by the Estate Agents Guarantee Fund also are more likely to have specialist knowledge of law but enabled the design, ongoing maintenance and revision of lack the publishing contacts, expertise and the benefi t a web version of the booklet on the Foundation website. of economies of scale. The task of getting materials produced and dispatched to their intended audiences was Local Laws Series of Booklets in much demand from these organisations. This popular series of booklets which includes, ‘Neighbours the Law and You’, ‘Dogs, Cats Neighbours Flexible development and delivery and You’ and ‘Parking the Law and You’ was initially Foundation publications can be produced independently published in 1998. An annual request for ‘Expressions of or in partnership with other organisations. Recent examples Interest’ is made to all Victorian Local Councils, offering of partnerships include: them the opportunity to purchase, at cost, multiple copies of the ‘Local Laws’ series. • Privacy Victoria and the Health Services Commissioner for the development of ‘Private Lives-Your Guide to In the last round major updating of content was undertaken Privacy Law in Victoria’ and approximately 120,000 booklets were distributed to 59 Councils. This now brings the total number of booklets • Department of Infrastructure, Consumer Affairs Victoria distributed to approximately 800,000, with nearly all and the Estate Agents Guarantee Fund for ‘Common Victorian Councils having ordered copies at some time Ground-Your Guide to Body Corporate Law and Living’ over the publication period. A fourth booklet in the series on Planning and Environmental law is currently being Development of the Foundation’s ‘The Complete Guide to developed. The development of a web version of the series the Law and Managing Bodies Corporate’ came about as is also currently being investigated. a result of the success of a partner publication, ‘Common Ground - Your Guide to Body Corporate Law and Living’, and growing community concern about residential body Private Lives Privacy Booklet corporate issues. Following the high demand for the booklets, an additional The Foundation responds to the information requirements print run of 30,000 copies was commissioned by Privacy of its constituents in a range of formats from large print Victoria within 3 months of the initial print run. run booklets (for example the Local Laws series with over 800,000 now distributed to 70 Victoria Councils), to smaller run specialist resources such as the play ‘Murder at Blue The Coroner’s Process Hills’ for secondary school legal studies students, which Originally produced in 1999 a further 8,000 copies of the includes a play (written by The Hon Justice J.H. Phillips AC, booklet were ordered by the State Coroner’s Offi ce for Chief Justice of Victoria), teacher’s notes and costumes distribution to their clients. which are available from the Foundation on loan. The Foundation is aware of the need to adapt to new A Just Society? technologies and in response to need, is producing reference and learning resources in video, CD-rom and Published in 1999 with an initial print run of 2000 copies. A web-based formats. number of recent large orders from University bookshops prompted a reprint of this book.

13 13th Commonwealth Law Conference display with visitors Chris Humphreys, Department of Justice and Kay Robertson, Department of Public Prosecutions with Joady Donovan

Clearinghouse for others Publications Distribution Qty Education 2,283 The Foundation acts as a clearinghouse for community A Just Society? organisations, many of whom are grant recipients with A Law is Made a limited capacity for marketing their own material to Civics & Citizenship Education Project a broader market. Such publications are taken on a Teachers Students & the Law consignment basis and marketed and sold alongside Foundation publications, through our direct mail catalogue, Local Laws 217,354 web catalogue and inserts to numerous journals and Common Ground – Your Guide to Body Corporate Law & Living periodicals. Complete Guide to the Law & Managing Bodies Corporate, The Dogs Cats Neighbours & You Approximately 20,000 catalogues were produced and Neighbours the Law & You distributed over the reporting period together with Parking the Law & You thousands of order forms on specifi c titles or themes to an extensive readership which would otherwise be unavailable Courts 11,311 to these organisations. For example our consignment About Jury Service publications include: Applying for an Intervention Order Juror’s Handbook • ‘Crash Course-A step-by-step guide to your options, Responding to an Intervention Order rights and responsibilities after a motor vehicle The Coroner’s Process collision’ by Eastern Community Legal Centre Your Day in Court • ‘People.Dot.Community’ by Villamanta Legal Service Self-Help 81,055 • ‘Over the Rainbow-A Guide to the Law for Lesbians Law Help Directory and Gay Men in Victoria’ by Victoria Legal Aid Private Lives - Your Guide to Privacy Law in Victoria Rural Law Handbook • ‘The Law Handbook-Your Practical Guide to the Law in Working it out - A Users Guide Victoria’ by Fitzroy Legal Service Working it out - Resource Pack The catalogue continues to prove a unique, independent Profession 184 resource bringing together a diverse range of publications Guidelines for Lawyers Acting for Children & Young People for a broad audience including students and teachers, Representing Children and Young People professionals and community lawyers. Consignment 519 Marketing support is also extended to organisations through Choice Books other means, e.g. The Legal Ombudsman, Refugee and Eastern Suburbs CLC Immigration Legal Centre (RILC), Victoria Legal Aid, and Federation Press Women’s Legal Service all took up the offer to join us in Fitzroy CLC displaying materials to an infl uential state, national and Law and Justice Foundation NSW international market at the 13th Commonwealth Law Melbourne Uni Press Conference held in Melbourne in May 2003. Pluto Press Victoria Legal Aid Our publishing activities and catalogue also allow us to Villamanta Legal Service take a role in the development, publication and marketing of best practice guides, such as: Total 312,706 • ‘Email Law-A planning guide for the delivery of legal assistance via the Internet’ by the Law & Justice Foundation NSW • ‘For the Public Good-Pro Bono and the Legal Profession in Australia’ by Federation Press • ‘Put It In Writing-120 letters that get results’ by Choice Books

14 >Support for best practice

One of the most effective ways of realising the Capacity Building Workshops – Foundation’s statutory objects is to work with established Working with the Media and Media Interview Skills groups to help them improve their service delivery capacities. Each year the Foundation runs a Workshop series to provide a training and development opportunity for community legal centre staff. This year, in conjunction Legal Reporting Awards with the Federation of Community Legal Centres, two workshops were conducted on ‘Working with the Media’ Media accounts of legal issues are a critical component and ‘Media Interview Skills’ during March and April in promoting public understanding of law and the legal 2003. The fi rst provided participants with an overview of system. The Foundation regularly works with strategies for working successfully with media including individual journalists and professional associations to raise ‘how to write winning press releases’. The second session, the standard of media coverage of law. The Foundation’s also involving the Victorian Council of Social Service Legal Reporting Awards, now in their sixth year, are (VCOSS) held at Channel 31, provided hands on media one concrete way of acknowledging and encouraging training to small groups under the guidance of experienced excellence in journalism. journalists. One of the volunteer media mentors was former Perhaps only second to the Walkley, the Foundation’s Foundation Board member and media personality Jon Legal Reporting Awards are now a coveted prize by Faine. Participants at the session were well pleased with journalists who compete for recognition in twelve the ‘friendly gruelling’ to ready them for real life media categories, including Best Television Report, Best Radio debuts on law and justice topics. The overall response Report, Best Report in Multicultural Media, and Best was glowing: Illustration. A new award, ‘The Tony Smith Award for reporting which promotes an understanding of the work ‘great practical experience with top class presenters’ of the courts’ was introduced this year. The distinguished panel of judges reviewed a record number of entries of a ‘a great opportunity to expand skills at a cost my very high standard. The winners were announced by the association could afford’ Chief Justice at a well attended (and extensively reported) function at the Supreme Court during Law Week.

Law Student Societies: The Hon Chief Justice Phillips AC, Chief Justice of Victoria and Prof Kathy Laster, Executive Director, Victoria Law Foundation with Law Student Society Executives, Clare Batrouney, Deakin, Tali Bonney, Deakin, Edwina Fenton, Uni Melb, Benjamin French, VUT, Elisa Sturzaker, Monash, Janie Tootell, Monash, Lewis Truong, VUT

15 Indonesian Judicial Training Program In April 2003 we hosted an information session for participants in the Indonesian Judicial Training Program that was coordinated by Australian Legal Resources International.

Wall Planner An A2-sized Victoria Law Foundation wall planner was produced with important legal and community sector dates including Foundation grant round application closing dates, court sitting days, public holidays, school holidays, Legal Reporting Awards judges with the Foundation’s Executive United Nations theme days and relevant conferences Director: Ian Henderson, ABC TV, Prof Kathy Laster, Michael Smith, and workshops. The planner was well received with Inside Public Relations, and Prue Innes, Supreme Court Liaison Offi cer 4,000 copies having been printed and distributed to the education, community and legal sectors.

Law Student Societies The Chief Justice describes law students as the ‘spiritual renewal of the profession’. For the fi rst time, the Foundation invited incoming Executive members of university Law Students’ Societies to meet with the Chief Justice and the Executive Director at the Supreme Court. Topics discussed at this session included a range of pro bono and equity initiatives by Law Student Societies which were in some instances then supported by a Small Grant from the Foundation or the brokering of assistance in kind by the Foundation. Law Student Societies also rendered assistance with a number of community education sessions conducted during Law Week.

Fulbright Scholar’s Visit At the Legal Reporting Awards: Frank Paton, Victoria Law Foundation Board Member, Sue Walpole, Legal Practice Board, Prof Kathy Laster The Foundation continues to bring new ideas to the and Robyn Oswald-Jacobs, RMIT. attention of the legal profession. Together with La Trobe University, the Foundation hosted the visit to Australia by Professor David Wexler from the University of Arizona under the Fulbright Senior Specialist program. Professor Wexler is the leading exponent of ‘therapeutic jurisprudence’ an interdisciplinary approach which holds that law has an impact on the physical and emotional well-being of clients and legal practitioners. These ideas now underpin the development of specialist courts and have been a powerful infl uence on the development of new models of decision making in the United States and Europe. During his visit to Melbourne, Professor Wexler gave a well attended public lecture on the topic, ‘ The New Lawyering: Can in be Therapeutic’, a symposium for members of the Mental Health Review Tribunal as well as conducting a special training session for members of the Victorian magistracy. The Foundation remains committed to providing opportunities to consider and debate new Capacity Building Workshops: Jon Faine, ABC Radio, leading an interview skills workshop approaches to law.

Chief Justice’s Victoria Law Foundation Medal for Excellence and Community Service The Chief Justice’s Victoria Law Foundation Medal for Excellence and Community Service has been established by the Foundation and the inaugural award will be made to the successful fi nal year law graduate of 2003. The award will be presented early in 2004 and it is anticipated will provide due recognition to students who have not only excelled academically but have also demonstrated a commitment to community work. The Foundation is keen to promote the ethos of public benefi t work at all levels of the legal profession.

Prof Kathy Laster, Prof David Wexler, Chief Justice and Elizabeth Loftus, Leo Cussen Institute

16 >Financial Reports

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