Freehills Foundation brings together the firm’s longstanding Pro Bono and Community Programs under one big banner. Our work is focused on effecting change for individuals and the community. 

From helping to transition the lives of a diverse range of people, to inspiring individual attitudes and actions that improve people’s lives – Freehills Foundation is committed to making change possible.

Freehills Foundation is overseen by an internal board of partners and senior staff who monitor the Foundation’s strategy, development and social impact. 

Pro bono partners, located in each of our offices, and our national Pro Bono Counsel act as contact points for pro bono requests. 

At an operational level, each of our offices has a Community Committee. These committees consist of representatives from across that office who guide the Foundation’s activities and budget in that office.

Freehills Foundation’s core business is to provide pro bono legal assistance for matters that are in the public interest to individuals and organisations, and to assist charities with our community program.  Whenever the opportunity arises, we advocate for systemic change to prevent or eliminate the inequities many of our Foundation clients face. Examples of this include the work that our staff at The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre do on homelessness, charity and not-for-profit advocacy and amicus briefs.

We have been honoured by awards which publicly acknowledge Freehills’ contribution. These have included:

• International Financial Law Review  - Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year 2006, 2007
• New South Wales Law and Justice Foundation Awards  ‘Pro Bono Partnership Award’ – with Mission Australia and The Salvation Army for The Shopfront and the NEIS Pro Bono Business Law Clinic, 2004
• Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships – Freehills, Sussex Street Community Law Service (WA), 2004
• National Children’s and Youth Law Centre Award for Children’s Lawyer of the Year in New South Wales, 2000 – Jane Sanders
• Victorian Public Interest Law Clearing House 2000 Pro Bono Awards – Large Metropolitan Practitioner, and
• Finalist - Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships – Freehills, Mission Australia and the Salvation Army (Sydney), 1999.

Freehills partners and staff also cherish hundreds of thank you notes, letters and cards from people and organisations we have helped. The oldest we have located is dated in the 1890s, from the Widows and Orphans Society in Victoria.

Freehills coordinates volunteering activities with community organisations on a regular basis. Staff give their time and undertake a variety of activities, including mentoring students excursions with disadvantaged children, tree planting, community barbeques and renovation projects. Freehills encourages volunteering and gives each staff member one working day a year to participate in the program.

Royal Far West Children’s Health Scheme

The Royal Far West Children’s Health Scheme is a non-government organisation that facilitates access to health services for children from country New South Wales. Each year, approximately 3500 children access the services available at Manly because they are unable to access them in the areas where they live. Freehills volunteers helped bring life and colour to Royal Far West Children’s Health’s Manly buildings and entry area by planting 240 plants and cleaning and painting the foyer and three service rooms.

Brotherhood of St Laurence Brekky Club

Freehills volunteers run an extremely successful program with Brotherhood of St Laurence in the Atherton Garden Community Centre in Fitzroy, every Thursday 7.30am–9.30am. This provides a perfect opportunity for enthusiastic volunteers from all areas of the firm to assist kids by serving nutritious breakfasts, playing games, talking with parents or providing homework help.

Australian Wildlife Conservancy

A group of Freehills staff with family and friends visited Karakamia Sanctuary in Gidgegannup, Western Australia, to help Australian Wildlife Conservancy with revegetation of areas around the dam. An amazing total of 2400 plants were planted within the two hours assigned to the task, a terrific effort by all. Everyone, including the children, chose their own ‘spot’ to plant, and took a lot of pride in their work.

Youngcare

Freehills Foundation provided pro bono legal assistance and Wesley Mission provided land to build 16 architecturally-designed, purpose-built apartments at Sinnamon Park for young people struggling with Multiple Sclerosis. The entire Freehills Brisbane office has supported the construction and opening of these contemporary apartments to get young people out of aged nursing home care.