Country Lawyers Program

The Law Society of Western Australia has been a part of the WA-specific Country Lawyers Program since 2007, in partnership with Legal Aid WA, the Legal Practice Board of WA, Community Legal Centres, the Aboriginal Legal Service, Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Legal Services and both State and Commonwealth Governments.

The aims of the Country Lawyers Program are to:

• Improve recruitment and retention of lawyers in country Western Australia with a specific focus on remote and hard-to-fill legal positions; and
• Improve access to professional development and continuing legal education for lawyers in those areas.

In the first 18 months of its operation the Country Lawyers Program has achieved significant results.

There are currently 23 lawyers in the program, including graduates and unrestricted lawyers. Lawyers are provided with specialised legal training at Legal Aid WA, with a focus on the areas of family law and domestic violence, preparing them to undertake placements at the participating partner agencies in regional areas around WA.

Placements usually run for a minimum of 12 months and are currently taking place in Carnarvon, Bunbury, Kununurra, Albany, Broome, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie and Port Hedland.

Partner agencies have indicated that the Country Lawyers Program has assisted them to fill legal vacancies that otherwise would have remained vacant, to enhance legal services to their local regional community and increase the legal skills available within their agencies.

Find out more about this innovative program and how to get involved at the Country Lawyers Program website.