Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders at Herbert Smith Freehills
Our signature commitment is to provide an unprecedented level of pro bono legal services to Indigenous clients. Our RAP formalises a commitment to provide up to $5 million of pro bono legal advice to Indigenous clients over three years.
During that time we also commit to:
- taking a lead facilitation role in the development of an educational eco-system to nurture a pipeline of talent to significantly increase employment outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the legal and corporate sectors;
- providing access to justice through pro bono legal advice and representation, in particular for the most vulnerable young people at risk of incarceration; and
- advocating actively for justice reinvestment and constitutional reform.
Our vision for reconciliation is to increase the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the legal profession and to help reduce their over-representation in the criminal justice system.
We seek to create a safe space where the aspirations of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients can be expressed and supported. We want to empower our clients to navigate their own pathways towards a better future.
Our guiding principles to ensure cultural legitimacy in all of our RAP relationships is to:
- listen carefully to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices before we speak or act;
- speak out in support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led solutions and empowerment; and
- always act in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, organisations and communities