UNDERFUNDED CLCS WILL BE HELPED BY CROWDFUNDING PROJECTS

Crowdfunding will be used to ­finance a new Perth-based justice program to train law graduates for community legal centres (CLCs), in a model that could help the sector address a shortfall in government funding.
The Piddington Justice Project, launched by banking service act. and the WA-based Piddington Society, aims to raise $30,000 through crowdfunding, which will be reinvested in CLCs. Participating CLCs will be given at least $1,000 for every law graduate it takes on board.
The project will help 5,000 people in need of legal assistance and provide about 15,000 hours of pro bono legal service. Each project is live for a maximum of 60 days and, like many other crowdfunding platforms, if it doesn’t meet funding targets in the allotted time the project will not be launched.
The English Family Foundation has already pledged to contribute $10,000 to participating CLCs once the Piddington Justice Project reaches $10,000.
The convener of the Piddington Society and, Nick van Hattem, a Perth-based lawyer administering the project, which, if successful could be rolled out in other jurisdictions.
The Chief Justice of Western Australia, The Hon. Wayne Martin, officially launch the project at the annual Perth Winter Ball, hosted by the Piddington Society at the Government House Ballroom on 19 June.
We look forward to hearing more about the success of this initiative.