Power of the collective: Walking to Justice, together

Power of the collective: Walking to Justice, together

By Rebecca Ross (CEO)

The 2023 Walk for Justice raised more than $150,000 for JusticeNet SA, ensuring that the pro bono clearing house can continue providing quality legal services to vulnerable people.

On 16 May over 360 people gathered at Adelaide Oval in the early hours of National Pro Bono Day for this year’s Walk for Justice.

The crowd included lawyers, paralegals, court administrators, politicians, members of the judiciary, independent commissioners, and people passionate about justice. The morning started with poignant words from Senior Kaurna Man Corey Turner, Attorney-General Maher, and a ribbon cutting by Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson.

Every year the Tuesday morning of National Law Week is set aside for the Walk for Justice to be held in capital cities across the country, generally hosted by the relevant jurisdiction’s Pro Bono Public Interest Legal Clearing House. Remarkably, this year marks the 15th Anniversary of both JusticeNet and the Walk for Justice, and it seemed only fitting to hit an equally remarkable target for the event.

Thanks to the incredible walkers’ fundraising efforts as well as our amazing event sponsors we hit the target of $150,000, almost double the previous best. The work of JusticeNet is dynamic and these funds will enable us to continue to provide our current programs focusing on those experiencing poverty, at risk of homelessness, refugees and asylum seekers, and people representing themselves in court.

It is never a particularly comfortable part of working for a charity, to have to put down the client files and shake the tin for funds. But it is a humbling exercise which keeps us accountable, and ensures we are delivering a service we are willing to turn to our networks and loved ones to for support; and confidently say we are making a difference with their donations.

We talk a lot about the return on investment of pro bono work. Whilst we work to the metrics of achieving great scale, value and impact, there are the intangibles that come with ensuring we have a broad and diverse legal ecosystem in which public organising and events such as Walk for Justice have a place. Some of these are togetherness, community, collaboration and altruism. Very few people became lawyers without prioritising some of these values, but sometimes we can feel unable to demonstrate that in our usual work. This can feel counter-intuitive at times. Because whilst the zealous advocacy model can make us lean into individualistic interpretation of the law, in a democratic society, law can only ever be collective.

Whilst looking at the Adelaide Oval lit-up in purple as the sun rose, and watching the forecourt fill with colleagues and friends who had every right to still be in bed, it felt like just that – a collective. An important reminder that in what can at times feel like the busiest moment in our lives, with many issues on the precipice, that we have strength in showing up for each other; not solely as a profession, but as a community.

So thank you to our incredible sponsors, donors, walkers and members for supporting the community that is JusticeNet SA for 15 years. We would not be able to do it without you, but we wouldn’t want to either.

Walk for Justice 2023 was sponsored by The Day Family Foundation, The Van Diemen Foundation, The Lang Foundation, College of Law, The Law Society of South Australia, and Prizes donated by Soi 38 x Fire, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Zoo, Maniax, Haighs Chocolates, Adelaide Central Markets, Burbrook Vineyard, Page and Turner, and Dormico.Rebecca Ross is the CEO & Principal Lawyer of JusticeNet SA

Original article published at https://bulletin.lawsocietysa.asn.au/Bulletin/Content/Articles/2023/June/Law_in_the_community.aspx?_zs=MAgel&_zl=Axoa2 

Published on 19-Jun-2023