Holland Beckett champion commitment to community through pro bono work 

In the Community
Apr 20 2026
Holland Beckett is proud to be one of the six founding signatories of the Framework for Collaborative Pro Bono in Aotearoa, along with five other national law firms – Gilbert Walker, Simpson Grierson, DLA Piper, Russel McVeagh and Luke Cunningham Clere. 

Formed in 2024, the framework is a strategic group led by Te Ara Ture which aims to enhance access to justice for all New Zealanders, especially the most vulnerable communities. The framework provides a structured pathway and a platform for cross-firm collaboration, sharing knowledge and best practice, reporting on targets, and working together to facilitate more effective use of pro bono time and more impactful services nationally. 

Holland Beckett understands that accessing legal advice can be challenging, and pro bono work plays a key role in the firms’ commitment to supporting the communities they are part of. The framework draws inspiration from successful international models and is a significant step towards creating a more successful pro bono culture in Aotearoa, tailored to serve communities more effectively and directed to the where it is most needed.  

What is pro bono?

‘Pro bono’ is professional, especially legal, work undertaken voluntarily for the public good. Donating legal help to those who need it has long been a practice of many law firms, improving access to justice for disadvantaged members within the community. 

Who can access pro bono services?

Holland Beckett’s pro bono practice focusses on providing high quality legal advice to assist in areas of unmet legal need, with an emphasis on work that will have a long-term impact and address systemic issues affecting marginalised or vulnerable people. The firm therefore aims to direct pro bono time towards charities, community groups and other not-for-profit organisations or social enterprises that work in the interests of low income or disadvantaged members of the community, or for the public good.  

Many of the lawyers at Holland Beckett also dedicate time and energy as board members of community organisations they are passionate about. 

What sort of pro bono work does Holland Beckett do?

Some recent examples of Holland Beckett’s pro bono work include:

  • Assisting Hunt for Good to form their charitable trust, enabling the group to organise deer culls and deliver the premium protein to various foodbanks and community groups – by the end of 2025 Hunt for Good had provided 73,507 servings (10.8 tonnes) of premium venison mince to local foodbanks;
  • Our RMA team supported Mount Playcentre with resource consent work as the playcentre moved location, enabling more local children to learn through play;
  • Our litigation team helps victims of financial abuse recover money and property that they would otherwise have lost, represents community organisations that are in dispute, and assists with appeals on a pro bono basis; 
  • House of Science, a national organisation on a mission to raise science literacy in schools with engaging science resources, is supported with pro bono employment, funding and Intellectual Property advice; 
  • We assist numerous sports clubs and charitable organisations, such as Omanu Surf Life Saving Club, Bay Conservation Incorporated and Rotorua Mountain Bike Club, in reviewing and preparing their constitutions;
  • Breast Cancer Support Services Tauranga Trust is aided with pro bono leasing and property advice, so they can focus on providing emotional and practical support to women diagnosed with breast cancer. 

Jen Scoular, Ex-Chair of House of Science NZ, is grateful for the pro bono work which the Trust has benefitted from while she was there; “House of Science is incredibly grateful for the pro bono legal work that Holland Beckett provides. We are a Charitable Trust, and we are able to access professional expert advice, guidance and support across a wide-ranging number of areas including HR, intellectual property, and contract law. Holland Beckett’s pro bono work better enables House of Science to deliver science kits to 180,000 primary school kids across Aotearoa, New Zealand, raising scientific literacy for the prosperity of New Zealand.” 

Who cannot access pro bono services, and what are the other options?

Holland Beckett is best equipped to support organisations who help the community overall, so that individuals receive better support through them in turn. While Holland Beckett does do pro bono work for individuals in some cases, this is mostly done through the Community Law network. Individuals who need legal assistance will usually have the best result working with their Community Law Centre to see that their legal needs are met.  

Holland Beckett is proud to be a firm leading the way in the pro bono space and look forward to many more joining the Framework for Collaborative Pro Bono in Aotearoa. This framework and a cohesive approach to pro bono work will improve access to justice for vulnerable people and support New Zealand lawyers to give back to communities in need. 

Holland Beckett encourages local community groups, charities and not-for-profit organisations to contact the firm for specific pro bono projects and to establish long term pro bono partnerships. 

Contact:

Natasha van der Wal, Partner
07 928 7097
natasha.vanderwal@hobec.co.nz 

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