By close of business on Thursday, the Australian Christian Lobby had raised over $2 million for Israel Folau's legal fighting fund. Many people are expressing views about whether Folau's published words ought to have affected his employment. It's an important discussion to have.
However, my mind is distracted by another question: about the priorities of the many practising Christians supporting the fundraiser, and whether they have thought about the other good works this money could go to. As a former community lawyer, I can think of many ways $2 million might be spent to help those facing a battle with the law.
There are around 50 Community Legal Centres (CLCs), including Aboriginal Legal Services, in Victoria, and over 180 nationally. Many receive only enough core funding for two or three full-time staff. With that, these tiny organisations help thousands of people in legal crisis (often precipitated by a financial, relationship or health crisis — or all of those) every year.
CLCs provide support to keep people in safe homes, help them navigate the mental health system, offer financial counselling, support them in jobs, protect them from abuse, and stop scammers exploiting the vulnerable. Community lawyers can be found in hospitals, drop-in centres, boarding houses and local parks, speaking to people who need help. I know, because I have done all these things. It was the hardest and most rewarding work I have done.
They do all this by quietly delivering far more than their funding allows — truly making loaves and fishes for the masses. The value of the pro bono work that they offer is worth many millions of dollars per year. CLCs often partner with universities to train students, who help clients with simple matters. They also augment their core funding with grant money, used to pilot new programs with an early intervention approach, diverting people away from crisis, and saving the justice and welfare systems countless hours and dollars.
Centres also provide ears on the ground for government. Often a CLC will be the first to learn about issues affecting disadvantaged groups which require regulatory responses. The legal assistance sector has driven reform in areas like family violence, mental health and disability advocacy, prison conditions and police accountability, providing a wider benefit beyond their clients and into the future.
The ability to cross over between legal practice, policy and advocacy functions is one of their unique features, stemming from their social justice origins