Independent community legal centre LawRight has navigated through “significant uncertainty” during the 2024–25 financial year, according to its annual report.
The non-for-profit organisation is looking forward to its 25th anniversary in 2025-26 after securing funding.
LawRight CEO Karen Dhyrberg said the 2024–25 financial year presented challenges for the organisation.
“Our major government funding was due to expire on 30 June 2025, the new national legal partnership agreement was still being negotiated, and elections were looming at both State and Federal levels,” she said.
“We did not know whether our funding would continue, or at what level. Government grants comprise 87 per cent of LawRight’s revenue.
“Fortunately, the National Access to Justice Partnership was settled in late 2024, and five-year funding was secured for our core programs, including our Federal Court work funded by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department.”
Karen said the community legal sector also received significant funding boosts from State and Federal governments to improve wages and conditions.
“With CLC wages lagging 22 per cent behind those at Legal Aid, it had become increasingly difficult to recruit and retain senior staff. This support from government has already had a real impact on wellbeing and stability in our workforce,” she said.
“However, challenges remain. The increased workforce funding has been rolled into the new funding model, but there is no allowance for growth, even as demand continues to climb.”
She said the Migration Law Service, funded by the Commonwealth to address backlogs in the Temporary Protection Visa scheme, started in March 2024 and ended in June 2025, even though demand continued.
“We enter 2025-26 in good shape and ready to address these challenges.”
Outgoing President Jacqueline Wootton, who is finishing her three-year team, said: “LawRight’s success relies on collaboration between staff, volunteers, members, and partners.
“I particularly want to thank our members for contributing more than 22,000 hours of pro bono legal help over the past year. This extraordinary contribution makes a real difference in improving access to justice for Queenslanders and in the effective administration of justice in this state.
“We are very grateful to the Queensland and Commonwealth governments for supporting community legal centres with additional funding to address workforce challenges.
“As the rising cost of living increases both client need and service delivery costs, fundraising
and donations are more important than ever to help LawRight meet demand.”
LawRight supported 1842 people to access justice with 3233 enquiries received by phone, email and in person and 11,843 total services.
Its Pro Bono Connect team connects vulnerable individuals and not-for-profit organisations with members of Queensland’s legal profession for pro bono assistance.
This includes co-ordinating public interest referrals, as well as administering the pro bono referral schemes of both the Queensland Law Society and the Bar Association of Queensland.
This year it received 1375 applications. Of these 588 clients were assessed as eligible for pro-bono help (either full representation, advice, help with legal tasks, or connection to another LawRight service).
Of these: 427 were connected to LawRight’s direct services – 420 to Court and Tribunal Services and 7 to Homelessness Law; 161 applicants were given a full assessment by the Pro Bono Connect team: 125 applicants were referred to pro bono partners; 67 picked up by pro bono partners for full representation; and four were referred for mediation.
LawRight had to turn away the remaining 787 applicants, who were assessed as ineligible for pro-bono assistance. Pro Bono Connect provided them with advice, information and/or referral elsewhere.
The main areas of law for these clients were property disputes, elder abuse and wills/probate.
LawRight Patron the Honourable Chief Justice Bowskill said she was proud of the organisation’s commitment to making access to justice a reality for all Queenslanders.
“Although demand continues to increase, it is reassuring to see the continued funding of LawRight’s core programs through the National Access to Justice Partnership, thanks to the State and Commonwealth Governments,” Her Honour said.
“Through its close work with the Bar Association of Queensland, Queensland Law Society and their members, LawRight provides the structure and coordination that enables the profession to deliver pro bono assistance.
“Without a strong community legal sector and LawRight’s leadership and expertise, this pro bono work could not occur.”
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