The Federal Government and the Law Council of Australia have launched the Centre for Asia-Pacific Pro Bono (CAPPB), to support international pro bono legal work in the Asia-Pacific region.

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon says the Centre for Asia-Pacific Pro Bono will see Australian lawyers make a real difference in our region and extend legal services and support to those who most need it.

Secretary-General of the Law Council of Australia, Professor Sally Walker, said the CAPPB, housed within the Law Council Secretariat in Canberra, provides a great opportunity for the Australian legal profession to promote the administration of justice and the development and improvement of the law in the Asia-Pacific.

“The CAPPB will provide a single entry point for government and private bodies in the Asia-Pacific region to contact providers of pro bono legal services in Australia.

“The Law Council of Australia expects the requests will come from a range of government and non-government organisations, courts and legal professional associations to provide legal advice, to draft legislation and to provide training and support.

“The CAPPB Secretariat has already been able to assist in the development and coordination of three pro bono projects and we will be closely monitoring the progress of these in the coming months.”

Further information on the CAPPB is available at www.cappb.org