Monash Memo - 25 July 2001

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Private assistance for legal service

Monash students and people needing legal assistance will benefit from the services of a private solicitor seconded for a month to the Springvale Monash Legal Service.

Mr Michael Schulze (pictured), from Maurice Blackburn Cashman, will be supervising and helping fourth and final-year Monash law students run their cases at the legal service.

Legal service director Mr Ross Hyams said it was the first time the organisation had used a private solicitor.

"We've usually employed solicitors to help, but this is part of an overall movement, backed by the state government, to form partnerships with private firms who can assist us as part of their pro bono work," he said.

"Not only does it help our clients gain access to justice but also it means we develop a relationship with a private firm."

He said Mr Schulze would be working at the service two days a week for one month as part of a pilot project, but in future would like to organise secondments of up to six months.