Access to justice — the ability to get legal help when you need it — is a fundamental right that many Australians cannot exercise because legal representation is expensive and legal aid is severely under-resourced. Pro bono legal work (free legal services provided by lawyers) fills some of the gap, but it is insufficient to meet demand. Grant funding supports the infrastructure for pro bono legal services, community legal centres providing free help to disadvantaged Australians, technology that improves legal access, and research that documents the justice gap.
The justice gap
Who is most affected by lack of legal access
Types of legal need
Legal Aid Commissions (state and territory)
Government-funded but under-resourced legal aid.
Federal Courts
Some self-represented litigant services.
Department of Home Affairs
Refugee legal support (limited).
Department of Social Services
Community legal centre funding.
Law firms' pro bono programs
Major law firms commit to pro bono hours — typically aggregated through clearing houses.
Law Foundation of New South Wales
Access to justice research and programs.
The Law Foundation (other states)
State-specific legal access funding.
Justice Connect
National pro bono coordination and access to justice programs.
Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)
Strategic litigation for public interest.
Community legal centre networks
State-based networks coordinate funding and advocacy.
Community legal centres
Pro bono coordination
Legal technology and digital access
Strategic litigation
Specialist legal services
Legal capability
Research and advocacy
Justice Connect coordinates pro bono legal work across Australia:
- Operates Not-for-profit Law — free legal help for charities and nonprofits
- Coordinates law firm pro bono placements for disadvantaged clients
- Runs refugee legal services
- Provides legal resources for community organisations
Applications working within or alongside Justice Connect's infrastructure benefit from established networks and systems.
Measured impact
Legal aid outcomes are measurable — cases resolved, dollar value of outcomes secured, housing preserved, protection orders obtained. Applications with clear output and outcome data are compelling to funders.
Prevention vs crisis
Early legal intervention — advice before a situation escalates — is more cost-effective than crisis litigation. Applications for early advice services prevent downstream harm.
Systemic change
Individual legal assistance is essential but limited. Applications that combine direct services with strategic litigation or systemic advocacy — addressing the legal rules that cause harm — have greater long-term impact.
Underserved populations
The most disadvantaged people face the greatest barriers to accessing even free legal services. Applications with outreach — going to where people are, rather than waiting for them to come — reach those most in need.
Tahua's grants management platform supports access to justice funders and community legal organisations — with casework tracking, outcome measurement, matter value data, and the reporting tools that help access to justice funders demonstrate their investment in equitable legal access for all Australians.