Interview with 2025 Australian Young Lawyer Organisation Award winner, NSW Young Lawyers
24 November 2025
What does it mean for NSW Young Lawyers Committee to receive the award?
Receiving this award is both humbling and affirming for our Committee. It represents recognition of the countless hours of volunteer efforts that young lawyers devote to projects that strengthen our profession and the community it serves. NSW Young Lawyers supports early career lawyers to recognise the influence they hold and to use it in ways that strengthen justice, equity, and community wellbeing. This award validates that mission.
This award demonstrates that when passion young advocates collaborate with purpose, they can drive genuine impact. It also acknowledges the importance of investing in the next generation of the legal profession, who bring fresh energy and social awareness to long-standing challenges like access to justice. Above all, this recognition reinforces the idea that meaningful change can come from initiatives that start small but grow big, like for example to influence the national conversation about the importance of pro bono legal services and professional responsibility.
I am so proud of us.
Can you tell us about the Demystifying Pro Bono: Contributing to Closing the Access to Justice in New South Wales (Guide), and how it was created and why?
Demystifying Pro Bono: Contributing to Closing the Access to Justice in New South Wales is our inaugural publication targeted at young lawyers who are interested in undertaking or learning about pro bono legal work. It aims to illuminate the pathways available for young lawyers to engage in pro bono work. The Guide was published on 28 November 2024 and can be accessed on the Law Society of NSW’s website. The Guide is the first of its kind in Australia in terms of a publication regarding pro bono legal work made for and by young lawyers.
The Guide maps out the diverse pro bono opportunities across NSW, including specialised initiatives supporting regional and remote communities, and highlights how pro bono work can extend into mediation and other alternative dispute resolution processes. The Guide also covers key ethical considerations, including wellbeing and vicarious trauma, and concludes with practical appendices.
The Guide was born from the simple observation that while pro bono work is a cornerstone of the legal profession, many early career lawyers don’t know where to start. Our Committee set out to bridge that gap. We wanted to create a practical and inspiring roadmap that explained and demonstrated how young lawyers can meaningfully contribute to access to justice, regardless of where they work or which area of law they practice. The Guide was entirely unfunded and produced through in-kind support, research, and consultation with key stakeholders such as the Law Society of NSW, the Australian Pro Bono Centre, community legal centres, and experienced practitioners who work exclusively in the pro bono space.
How does pro bono legal assistance help bridge the gap in access to justice for underserved communities?
Pro bono legal assistance is a vital bridge between the legal system and those who might otherwise be excluded from it. For vulnerable or marginalised individuals, even a small legal issue like a tenancy dispute, a fine, or a family matter can escalate into a life-changing problem without access to timely advice. Pro bono lawyers help prevent that by offering professional expertise where public legal aid and community resources may be stretched thin. In doing so, they promote fairness, social inclusion, and trust in the justice system. But pro bono legal work benefits more than just clients, it strengthens the profession itself. Lawyers who engage in pro bono work deepen their empathy, build stronger practical problem-solving skills, and develop a deeper sense of civic responsibility. By embedding pro bono values early in legal careers, we can foster a culture where public service is not peripheral but central to our professional identity.
What resources are available to young lawyers who wish to engage in pro bono work in NSW?
NSW is fortunate to have a strong ecosystem supporting young lawyers who want to give back through pro bono work. The Law Society of NSW’s Pro Bono Scheme is a great starting point, connecting volunteer solicitors with individuals and community organisations who can’t otherwise access legal help. The NSW Bar Association also runs the Legal Assistance Referral Scheme (LARS) and Duty Barrister Scheme, which pair barristers with clients who might otherwise face court alone.
Nationally, the Australian Pro Bono Centre plays a leading role in shaping and promoting Australia’s pro bono culture. It offers practical resources such as the Pro Bono Manual, the Guide for Individual Lawyers, and the National Pro Bono Target, which many firms and individual lawyers commit to each year.
There are also hands-on opportunities through Community Legal Centres NSW, Legal Aid NSW, and the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT), as well as through organisations like Justice Connect and the National Justice Project.
Importantly, our Guide itself brings these threads together. Its appendices (starting on page 25) include a template email for expressing interest, a glossary of key terms, and a collection of hyperlinked resources – giving young lawyers the tools they need to start engaging right away.
What are the Committee’s aspirations for 2026 and beyond?
In 2026, NSW Young Lawyers will be led by President-elect, Will Noonan. The Committee will be focusing on its engagement with young lawyers in the cities and regional centres, as well as promoting their role within the modern professional workforce and community. On the horizon is the return of past flagship events, such as the Young Professionals Ball, and new initiatives focusing on our rural and regional practitioners will begin in 2026 and continue to develop in the years following.
Taylah Spirovski, Immediate Past President of NSW Young Lawyers, speaking on behalf of the NSW Young Lawyers.
Last Updated on 28/11/2025
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