Bell Gully is committed to making meaningful contributions to initiatives that support the wellbeing of our communities, and the positive growth and development of the people within them. Our pro bono and community programmes guide our commitment to pro bono work and community support, and our people decide where we should focus our community efforts. These programmes form a fundamental part of Bell Gully's culture of manaakitanga.
Community support
Our community support comes in the form of donations, fundraising efforts and volunteering our time and skills to provide practical and appropriate help.
We have long-standing annual fund-raising events for local and national charities (including Auckland and Wellington City Missions, Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand, Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand, Mental Health Foundation and Shine), and we actively encourage and support our people to get involved in them, for a good cause. It is a spirit that is expressed at every level of the firm – from our interns, lawyers and business support staff through to partners.
Pro bono
Bell Gully is a strong community supporter - sharing time, skills and financial support for the benefit of those in need. One way we do this is through our pro bono programme.
Bell Gully has a long history and embedded culture of providing legal advice on a pro bono basis, making major pro bono contributions to a wide range of organisations. In 2009, we led New Zealand firms by example when we formalised our pro bono programme, and appointed a senior associate to a dedicated role to manage it. The programme, which is overseen by a committee of four partners and three senior associates, soon met and exceeded ambitious annual targets. One objective in formalising the programme was to encourage other firms to make comparable contributions, and we’re thrilled to see more of them taking up and reporting on pro bono work.
As part of our programme, we have established specific criteria to ensure our pro bono work reaches those who need it most, with our focus on reaching as far and wide into our communities as we can, and promoting the public interest. Our policy provides structure and processes around how we source, manage and promote pro bono work.
If you are seeking pro bono assistance, please email our pro bono programme manager Rachel Gowing to make an application.
Our pro bono programme in action
We're nurturing established relationships, confident in the knowledge that when we do pro bono work, it's supporting deserving recipients.
Community law centres
We have built close relationships with the Auckland Community Law Centre, the Waitematā Community Law Centre and Community Law Wellington and Hutt Valley (the CLCs). The CLCs provide essential services to those in the community without the means to pay for legal advice, assisting with a wide range of issues. As a substantial component of our pro bono programme, we provide secondee lawyers to each of the Auckland-based CLCs for one day each week, and to the Wellington CLC on a regular basis.
Health
We support charitable organisations working in the health sector, including Breast Cancer Foundation NZ and Burnett Foundation Aotearoa.
Local and global aid organisations
Among others, we support ChildFund NZ and Habitat for Humanity New Zealand with pro bono legal advice.
Youth, family & parenting
We assist various charitable organisations with a focus on youth support and development, as well as parenting and family support services. These include KidsCan, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Plunket, Voices of Hope and Parenting Place.
Local community
In addition to our relationships with local community law centres, we also support community-focused charitable organisations, including FinCap, Kāhui Tū Kaha, Kindness Collective, Project Restore and Shine.
Environment
We have advised Environmental Defence Society, Marlborough Kaikoura Trail Trust, and Te Araroa Trust on a pro bono basis.
Culture
We also advise charitable organisations with a cultural focus, including Asia New Zealand Foundation.
