Giving back to the community: Two lawyers explain why volunteering means so much to them

More than 100 years ago, during World War I, the Law Society of South Australia administered the Red Cross Information Bureau out of the Verco building on North Tce (incidentally, the current Law Society premises is behind the Verco Building’s façade). A significant portion of the legal profession put their hand up to volunteer for the service, which entailed lawyers fielding requests from loved ones seeking information on missing South Australians who had been fighting overseas. This task particularly suited lawyers as it involved extensive investigations to search for facts amid a maze of misinformation, logistical obstacles, and the fog of war.

Looking back at the history of community service by lawyers serves as a reminder of the proud legacy of pro bono work in the legal profession.

Even a much more recent review of some of the Law Society’s Justice Award recipients, who are acknowledged annually for their outstanding service to access to justice in the community, reveals an enduring commitment to helping people in need.

Lawyers do have a unique set of skills which, combined with an education rooted in principles of justice and equality, seems to engender a sense of duty to use that expertise to serve others. In a recent Law Society survey, 82% of respondents reported that they engage in pro bono work, averaging about 6.3 hours of pro bono work per month.

For this special community edition, we spoke to two lawyers who, while they have a very busy day job, contribute an extraordinary amount to the community. Alice Tester, a solicitor at Roach Corporate Law, and Will Gray, who has recently set up his own practice after several years working as a solicitor in mid-sized law firms, have generously given what little spare time they have to discuss their volunteering activities, why they choose to volunteer, and what they get out of serving the community.

Alice Tester (middle) at a Rotary sausage sizzle

ALICE TESTER

How did you and your firm become involved in Rotary?

We initially reached out to Rotary as the firm’s founding director, Daniel Roach, had connections with others who were in the Rotary Club of Seaford. I also have a long history of involvement in various community and charity groups, and it seemed a good fit! It flowed naturally from there and as a member I attend Club meetings and then at one Club meeting I put up my hand for a board position and I am now involved in that side of things in the Club too.

What kind of community activities to you do as part of Rotary?

The community activities I have been involved in so far with Rotary include fundraising BBQs at Bunnings Seaford, cleaning up the Seaford Wetlands, and collecting and delivering various household items to Coolock House. We are also involved in raising money for the building of a medical facility in Mbale, Uganda. The projects therefore range from local community to international causes. There are so many different causes and projects that the Club is involved in and it’s going to be exciting to be involved in those further projects moving forward.

Can you tell us about the service for domestic violence women that you are involved in?

The Rotary Club of Seaford has a relationship with Coolock House, which provides safe and secure temporary housing for families. Our firm is one of the collection points for various household items that we then deliver to Coolock House for the families there. We have delivered a couple of times, but we are always looking for more donations! We are happy to provide the “wish list of items” from Coolock House if anyone is interested. We have also shared this on our firm’s Facebook page.

You are heading up a walkathon to raise money for bowel cancer in memory of Daniel Roach. Can you please tell us a little bit about Daniel?

As part of our corporate membership with the Rotary Club of Seaford, the firm is in the process of organising its own project to run through the Club. We have talked about organising something in memory of Daniel.

Daniel was an amazing person and boss. I will always appreciate his patience and teachings and guidance when I was a new grad. He also had a great sense of humour. He is terribly missed.

As Daniel was one of those people who would go for a run before work, we thought a walkathon would be a good idea. Here we would be raising money for a charity involved in cancer research or similar. We are still planning and organising however and will send out details when the project is more finalised!

You are the vice-president of the Southern United Netball Association. What does this involve?

In my role as vice-president of SUNA, I assist with certain communications and meetings with clubs and members, review internal regulatory and policy documents, and attend various community events put on by SUNA such as the ANZAC annual match and the Carnivals where many clubs and teams come to participate and play netball. It has been a great role and I have developed some great relationships with others in the community.

What motivates you to do so much community work?

I haven’t really thought about this before – it’s just something I’m drawn to – probably reflective of my upbringing and values I have seen around me including from my Mum and Nana. It is important to recognise the privilege you may have, and not everyone is so lucky – we need to recognise that and help others but also listen to them and ask them what they need.

How do you manage your work and volunteer commitments (and other commitments)?

I think it is about deciding what are the priorities in your life and making time for those priorities.

Is your firm supportive of you being so heavily involved in community organisations and activities?

They definitely are – we are all encouraged and are active in the community in various ways and roles, and we recognise the importance of this and of giving back.

What would you say to people thinking about putting their hand up to volunteer in the community?

Everyone has a lot going on in their lives, with work, family, and other commitments, however even if you can spare an hour a fortnight or even a month, you can still contribute and help the many good causes around your community and even interstate and internationally. There is such an amazing network of volunteers who do an amazing job and if everyone puts a little time in it’s amazing what can be achieved. WILL GRAY

How did you get involved with Salvation Army’s will drafting service?

Through my previous employer, Camatta Lempens, who were a long-term supporter of the service. As a junior in the Wills and Estates team at the time back in 2015-16, I had the opportunity to assist on several occasions, and have continued to do so ever since.

Can you tell us a bit about the experience of writing pro bono wills,

The most common clients are older couples who are cash poor, and for whom the service provides an opportunity to access a lawyer when they otherwise may not have been able to do so. We also do assist single parents, those without stable housing and other struggling people.

What makes the pro bono wills service such a valuable service?

Many of these clients would not have accessed Estate planning services without such an offering, and the first meeting occurs at a Salvation Army venue, which can be a safe space for some of the people we meet. It makes the law accessible.

Would you recommend other lawyers consider being involved in services like the Salvation Army’s?

Absolutely, and the man to contact is John Tobin, who would love to hear from lawyers keen to be involved. I also assist with the Cancer Council on a pro bono basis and they too are often in need of volunteer Solicitors. My new firm, Gray Matters Legal, has signed up to the National Pro Bono target of 35 hours per year year which really is a minor commitment in the grand scheme of things, given it is less than 1 hour per week. I certainly intend to better that by some margin and am hopeful of at least 100 hours per year, which still doesn’t seem enough!

What does your role as President of Campbelltown Squash Club involve?

A little bit of everything. We field over 25 teams in the Squash SA Pennant competition and have over 150 members, we run regular events both competitive and social, and I assist with coaching and refereeing. I’m very lucky to have a fantastic Committee behind me doing most of the work. We also regularly meet with key stakeholders in an ongoing effort to continue to grow and improve what we offer. The Campbelltown Council and the “ARC” (our facility) are fantastic and very supportive of us. Particularly in smaller sports, finding committee members is tough, and I think people from a professional environment add value to any committee and I certainly encourage lawyers to help out with their local sports club.

Have you been able to put your legal skills to good use as President?

Perhaps more so quasi-legal skills: active listening, patience and mediating potential disputes are certainly of assistance when volunteering in sport. I have also assisted Squash SA with Disciplinary Tribunals and a legal background certainly assisted with this.

How did you get into coaching and what has that experience been like?

I was captain of squash in year 12 at school, and was asked by the coordinator to come back the following year to look after the division 1 boys the following year. I’ve never looked back and am now in my 15th year of coaching. It’s a great way to give back and I keep saying I’ll only stop if I don’t enjoy it, which hasn’t happened yet!

I understand you play squash as well. What is it about squash that you particularly enjoy?

Initially it was just to play with friends, and I suppose I accidentally became a good player by enjoying it so much and wanting to play all the time, and now in a selffulfilling prophecy one of the reasons I love it is because I can play it well and I’ve had the opportunity to play a few professional tournaments in SA and even managed a (lucky) win against a player then ranked in the top 250. I love the high intensity and the split-second tactical decisions, but more importantly I have formed so many close friendships through the sport. It’s a fantastic community to be a part of.

How do you manage your work and volunteer commitments (and other commitments)?

With great difficulty! I have been fortunate to have always been supported in my sporting and volunteering endeavours by my employers and now running my own firm allows me to commit more time to these other commitments. I like to be busy - a good day for me will always consist of some form of exercise and something social. B July 2022 THE BULLETIN 21