Victorian Bar Monash Faculty of Law Open Justice Project

The Open Justice Project is a collaboration between the Victorian Bar and the Monash Faculty of Law.  It enables later year undergraduate and postgraduate students at the Faculty to provide pro bono legal assistance (such as research and paralegal assistance) to barristers in pro bono matters. 

The Patron of the Project is the Honourable Chris Maxwell AC, former President of the Court of Appeal. 

The purposes of the Open Justice Project are to:

• enhance access to justice by providing barristers who are working pro bono with pro bono legal research support and assistance
• offer students pedagogical development in their legal studies through experiential learning
• engender students with the values of pro bono and enhance student awareness of the issues concerning access to justice
• deepen connections between students and barristers, provide students with a greater awareness of the work of barristers and inspire them to consider joining the Bar; and
• provide students with practical experience and legal skills in order to contextualise their legal studies in real world work.

Barristers who wish to be part of the Open Justice Project can access the handbook and application form through the member portal here.

An event to mark the launch of the Open Justice Project was held on Wednesday, 24 March 2021. Attendees heard from various speakers who explained the importance of the Project as well as how it will mutually benefit students at Monash University and barristers who provide pro bono assistance.

A video of the event is available to watch here:

For more information, contact vicbar@vicbar.com.au.