QPILCH is a legal referral and service organisation. We refer civil law cases that meet our guidelines to firms and barristers for free legal assistance through 3 referral services:
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We also provide direct services through legal staff and volunteers in particular areas, currently:
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 | homelessness | |
administrative law (problems with government decision making) | |
civil law for refugees | |
self-representation. |
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QPILCH also manages the pro bono schemes of the Queensland Law Society and the Bar Association of Queensland.
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QPILCH is a partnership of law firms, barristers, the Queensland Association of Independent Legal Services Inc., the Queensland Law Society Incorporated, the Queensland Bar Association, Legal Aid Queensland, university law schools, accountancy firms and government and corporate legal units.
QPILCH draws on the resources of the legal profession to provide pro bono legal services:
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| advice and assistance in targeted areas of law; and | |
assessment, research and referral services. |
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QPILCH is an independent office. While QPILCH receives some government funding, QPILCH is separately incorporated and is managed by a committee comprised of representatives of its members. While we are accountable to our funders to ensure the funds we receive are used properly to provide our services within our guidelines, our funders have no say in any decisions about who we assist and for what issue. The committee is elected annually by members between July and December each year.
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 | QPILCH Rules - View QPILCH's rules (Last amended: 6 October 2008) |  |
QPILCH is a member of the Queensland Association of Independent Legal Services (QAILS) and is insured under the National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC) auspiced Professional Indemnity and Directors and Officers insurance policies.
As a community legal centre (CLC) and member of QAILS, QPILCH seeks to support members of the community who cannot access legal aid nor afford private legal services and community organisations to access the legal system.
QPILCH seeks to support other CLCs and similar community services to maximise use of their resources through offering relevant training, links with and referral to the private profession.
QPILCH is a member of the Australian PILCH network.
QPILCH Patron is The Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Chief Justice of Queensland.
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QPILCH is established for the public charitable purposes of providing direct relief of poverty, suffering, distress, misfortune, destitution or helplessness to poor, marginalised and excluded individuals by, without limitation:
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| providing pro bono (without charge) legal assistance; and | |
assisting only people who cannot obtain legal aid and who cannot afford legal services. |
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As minor activities, QPILCH may:
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| provide training to increase the capacity of pro bono service providers; | |
increase the efficiency and capacity of the not for profit sector by coordinating legal services for organisations that assist poor, marginalised and excluded individuals; and | |
raise awareness of social justice issues and participate in the development of socio-legal policies, laws and legal practices for the benefit of disadvantaged people. |
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