Are you a lawyer?
If you want to help fight for a liveable planet, that is also a fairer, more equitable one, here are a few specific ways you can help:
Offer pro bono assistance
If you are practicing in Queensland and willing to (on occasion) provide pro bono assistance to activists, please email us: actionready@protonmail.com. Other jurisdictions get in touch with Counteract to offer support: sign up here.
Criminal lawyers desperately needed for advice and representation across Queensland and particularly in South East Queensland.
Are you interested in running novel defences? Please reach out.
Civil lawyers needed for various matters including defamation, banking and finance, human rights and a range of other issues as they arise.
Volunteer with your local community legal centre. The most vulnerable in society are facing increasingly complicated legal issues. CLCs need your support.
2. Wage sharing
Don’t have much spare time? Donate some of your wage to pay the rent, or support someone doing good work.
We are living on unceded land. Rent is due the 26th of each month - set up a regular donation to a First Nations lead organisation or fundraiser that aligns with your values.
Beyond regular donations, consider 'wage sharing' with someone who is giving up paid work to fight for justice by donating part of your wage directly to them. Most of our movement is working for free so this is a really simple and important way you can help keep it going. You can reach out to us if you’re interested in being linked up with an activist in this way.
3. Organise in your community
Join a group, go to meetings, take on jobs, don’t let yourself become apathetic. Join the new Lawyers for Climate Justice Australia group on Facebook. If you can’t find a group that resonates, start your own. Organise events, fundraisers, rallies, actions. Make activism a priority.
4. Use your voice and your privilege
Use your voice and your privilege to speak out. Talk about climate and social justice in your workplace, talk about it every single day. Speak to your friends, your family, to your kids’ P&C. Wherever you can, be a voice on these issues in general society, in politics and where possible, in law reform and in the courtroom.
These suggestions have been extracted from ‘A climate change for lawyers: law, civil disobedience, and the call to action in the age of the climate crisis’ published by CLC NSW and authored by Action Ready.