Law firm McCullough Robertson attributes the success of its pro bono program to ensuring this work is fully integrated into the everyday activities of the firm.
McR Pro Bono Partner Tim Longwill said around 168 of the firm’s 200 lawyers took part in the program, which provided around $3 million in free legal services to not-for-profit groups each year.
Off the back of this program, McCullough Robertson recently won the Pro Bono Team of the Year Award at the 2025 Queensland Law Society Excellence in Law Awards.
Mr Longwill said pro bono work conducted by the firm was not treated any differently from work for paying clients.
“It’s indistinguishable in the sense that instructions are taken in the same way and we deal with the client in the same way,” he said.
“From the lawyer’s perspective they are allocated a budget so the time they spend effectively goes to their bottom line and is assessed in the same way as their paid work.”
Mr Longwill said Pro Bono programs, targeted well, could make a major difference to people lives.
“There is such a divide between people and organisations who can and can’t access good quality legal advice,” he said.
“That divide is getting wider and wider and it shouldn’t be that way. People shouldn’t be precluded from being able to exercise their rights simply because they cannot engage a lawyer.
“There are limited funds for legal aid and community (legal) services so pro bono helps fill that gap and it works well for us because it is just part of giving back to the community. It is not seen as a favour or an exception. It is a fundamental part of what we do.”
Mr Longwill said that, in broad terms, McCullough Robertson provided pro bono work to not-for-profit groups across all of its areas of practice.
It did not do this work outside of its commercial “wheelhouse” so it did not cover areas like criminal law or conduct litigation. The pro bono work also excluded direct work for individuals.
Support was, however, provided through participation in legal clinics and being on panels for organisations like LawRight and Kingsford Legal Centre that helped people access pro bono support.
McCullough Robertson also provided support on various legal phone services and to services tailored for vulnerable people.
It supported secondments of its lawyers into pro bono support positions.
More details on the program are here
