A sunny Brisbane morning, record numbers of walker registrations and more than $116,000 in donations made this year’s Queensland LawRight Legal Walk a huge success.
The 5km walk by members of the legal fraternity in different cities and towns across Queensland pulled in 1055 participants, the largest number of registrations since it began in the early 2000s.
Tuesday’s annual fundraiser took place on National Pro Bono Day, as part of National Law Week.
LawRight co-chief executive Karen Dyhrberg said the fundraising was even more important this year as the organisation, which supports vulnerable people to access justice, reaches the end of its five-year funding agreement with government and attempts to gain additional funding.
Law Right is 30 per cent self-funded and provides an important service of connecting vulnerable people with pro bono lawyers and helps with access to housing and income and legal rights.
The funding from events such as the Legal Walk goes towards meeting demand for youth services and the disbursement fund, which helps pro bono clients with their out-of-pocket costs that aren’t their legal costs, for example expert and medical reports and filing fees, Dyhrberg said.
Chief Justice of Queensland, Helen Bowskill, who is the patron of LawRight, was part of the large crowd completing the walk on Tuesday morning and thanked the legal fraternity, volunteers and organisers for putting on the event.
“It gives you a very warm and positive feeling to head into this day knowing you have contributed to people who are vulnerable in our community, who need legal services but cannot afford to pay them,” Chief Justice Bowskill said.
Law Right Treasurer Tony Denholder noted the Chief Justice completed the 5km at a “cracking pace” and hinted she may have used her judicial powers to secure a green light at every intersection on George St.
Cairns
Far North Queensland Law Association marshalled walkers at the northern end of the Esplanade, where they headed south towards the marina before returning to the Funship Parkland for a coffee.
Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast Law Association gathered walkers in Maroochydore, where they were joined by former Supreme Court Justice Roslyn Atkinson. The walk curved around the coast to the Maroochydore Surf Club before looping back to the starting point, where coffee was provided.
Toowoomba
It was a chilly start but otherwise perfect for walkers in Toowoomba, where the Downs and South West Queensland Law Association hosted a walk around Queens Park Gardens. Walkers were joined by Judge Horneman-Wren SC who is on circuit in Toowoomba, as well as regular participant Acting Magistrate Ryan. Every donor received a free coffee at the coffee van.
Fundraising award winners:
Champion fundraising team and chambers: Level Twenty Seven Chambers $16,240
Champion fundraising firm: Clayton Utz $12,140
Champion fundraising law school: Griffith University
Champion fundraising individual: Rafa “the miniature schnauzer” Denholder (Ashurst mascot)
Teams over $5,000: Herbert Smith Freehills, North Quarter Lane Chambers and George Street Chambers
Teams over $1,000: Ashurst, QEII Courts, Callinan Chambers, DJAG, MurphySchmidt Solicitors, Qld Law Society, Northbank Chambers, McCullough Robertson, BAQ President’s Team, MinterEllison, Higgins Chambers, Barry Nilsson, Lander & Rogers, UQ and Corrs Chambers Westgarth
The website for the 2024 QLD Legal Walk will stay online to take donations until the end of the week.
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