About us

Overview

In 2007 Victoria Law Foundation celebrates 40 years making law accessible.

Victoria Law Foundation is an independent, community benefit organisation making law accessible. Each year we award more than $1/2M in cash grants and the same again of in-kind support for innovative projects. Our free and low cost publications are distributed by Information Victoria tel 1300 558 181 details online at www.victorialaw.org.au

We fund and generate innovative projects. Some projects we have developed include: Law Week, over 100 activities by 80 organisations, the Pro Bono Secretariat linking pro bono service providers, Rural Law Online overcoming the disadvantage of rural Victorians, the Justice Museum in conjunction with the National Trust.

Created by an act of Parliament, the Foundation has been at the cutting edge of legal development for 40 years. We meet changing community needs, and enhance access, understanding and engagement with the law. The Foundation links the community and legal sectors with leadership in innovative projects over four program areas – Grants, Access to Justice, Publishing, and Support for Best Practice.

Mandate

Established in 1967, we are an independent, community benefit organisation making law accessible. We fund and generate innovative projects. Each year we award more than $500,000 in cash grants and more again of in-kind support.

Governance

We operate under our own Act of Parliament, the Victoria Law Foundation Act. Our President is the Chief Justice of Victoria. Our Board comprises senior representatives of the legal community. We have an Executive Director and five multidisciplinary, specialist staff.

The Victoria Law Foundation Act 1978 defines our legislative mandate as the 'Objects of the Foundation':

(a) to promote or undertake legal research, whether being conducted within or without Victoria , which in the opinion of the Foundation may be of value in the reform of the law in Victoria ;

(b) to promote legal education in Victoria, including the education and training of legal practitioners and persons employed by legal practitioners in any subject or field that in the opinion of the Foundation is likely to promote the efficient practice of law in Victoria;

(d) to investigate or inquire into proposals for the improvement of the administration of law in Victoria , including the work of the legal profession, and to promote or undertake projects directed towards such improvements;

(e) to promote or undertake within Victoria community education in law and the legal system, including programmes in schools;

(f) to communicate to legal practitioners and other persons information on the law and matters related to the law;

(g) to publish or subsidize the publication of material relating to, resulting from or connected with carrying out the objects of the Foundation;

(h) to do anything incidental or conducive to the carrying out of the foregoing objects.

Program

The Foundation fills GAPS in existing services through four key areas of activity:

Grants - each year the Foundation awards more than $500,000 in cash grants and more again in consulting and other support in an innovative grants program.

Access - the Foundation undertakes major projects, alone and in partnership with other organisations, making law accessible to all Victorians. The projects include Law Week, Rural Law Online, Law@YourLibrary, Justice Museum, scholarships and bursaries.

Publications - the Foundation is the expert plain language, legal information publisher and provides consultancy, advice and leadership to other organisations publishing legal information for the profession and for community groups.

Support - the Foundation supports public benefit best practice by legal and community organisations through awards, capacity building and training, and networking opportunities.

Guiding principles

These help us decide what to fund, publish, support and undertake:

1. Innovation and practicality - ideas that translate into sustainable, practical solutions
2. Partnerships and collaborations - which build expertise and learning
3. Multi-purpose - to realise a number of the Foundation's objects
4. Fostering networks - within and between the legal and community sectors
5. Significant impact - by the size of audience or depth of impact
6. Efficient use of resources - doing 'more with less'
7. Accountability and evaluation - of processes and outcomes
8. Balancing short & long term outcomes - necessary quick fixes coupled with lasting contributions
9. Leadership - in public benefit best practice
10. The 'but for' test - essential work which 'but for' the Foundation cannot, or would not, be undertaken

Funding

We receive funding from the public purpose fund administered by the Legal Services Board. The major source of this fund is interest on lawyers’ trust accounts. We also seek funding from other sources including revenue from our own projects.

VLF Review Report Jul-07

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