Australia - First Nations

Our history of working with First Nations communities

Ashurst Perkins Coie is committed to supporting the advancement of the legal profession and working to help achieve positive social impacts in the communities in which it operates. Pro bono work is engrained in the fabric of Ashurst Perkins Coie and is a standalone legal practice. Ashurst Perkins Coie’s First Nations pro bono practice is led by our First Nations lawyer to ensure that collaboration is culturally aligned and sensitive. This ensures that collaboration is culturally aligned and sensitive.

Our journey of legal support for and with First Nations people and First Nations led organizations began in the early 1970s, when our lawyers supported the establishment of the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) in Redfern, NSW. The ALS was the first free legal service in Australia. ALS’s initial volunteer lawyer cohort was largely made up of lawyers from, or who would become part of, our Australian business.

From the 1970s onwards the firm continued to provide pro bono legal services to First Nations people and organizations throughout Australia. Our deep relationships with key First Nations community organizations continue to this day. For example, we provide the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) with ongoing legal support and a rotating, permanent full-time secondee in their Katherine office.

First Nations people leading First Nations work

First Nations Pro Bono Lawyer

• The role of the First Nations Pro Bono Lawyer is held by Nareeta Davis, Senior Associate. Nareeta is a descendant of the Purga Mission from Ipswich with cultural connections to the Kullili Thargomindah people, the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people and maternal non-indigenous heritage. Nareeta is deeply committed to working with the vulnerable and particularly the homeless community. Her passion for helping people from all walks of life and to serve with kindness and respect alongside her cultural and spiritual connection of her strong cultural identity.

Head of First Nations Strategy

• Jerome Pang is Head of First Nations Strategy at Ashurst Perkins Coie, where he leads Indigenous engagement and strategy across the firm’s national approach to First Nations work. He is a Kalkadoon man and a descendant of the Waanyi, Gangalidda, Lardil and Pitta Pitta peoples of North West Queensland and the Gulf of Carpentaria.
• Jerome is focused on embedding meaningful First Nations participation across legal practice, procurement, and governance frameworks, driving measurable outcomes in partnership with clients and communities. He is committed to turning strategy into action ensuring First Nations perspectives are not only included, but central to decision-making.

Collaboration

• Through our work in this space, we collaborate with commercial and pro bono clients on various initiatives aimed at looking at further opportunities of First Nations people. First Nations work is embedded across our internal business and legal practices.
• We aim to deliver culturally coherent and aligned pro bono legal advice to First Nations clients.

Pro Bono First Nations Practice

• The First Nations Pro Bono Practice is led by Nareeta Davis, Senior Associate. With all First Nations pro bono matters, Nareeta is responsible for reviewing and overseeing the matter from start to finish, and she also commits to keeping in close contact with the First Nations Clients and Lawyers to ensure cultural support and engagement between the parties. Nareeta also engages with community organisations and practices to source opportunities that may exist in the form of organisational support. Building sincere relationships in a holistic manner is Nareeta's compass of doing business and work in the pro bono space.
• At Ashurst Perkins Coie, we believe that everyone has the right to legal advice and representation, regardless of their means. We take seriously our professional responsibility to increase access to justice through pro bono and we work with a wide range of partners, including community legal centres, charities, not-for-profits and social enterprises, as well as with individuals, playing a strategic role in building innovative solutions to legal and social issues.

Our First Nations initiatives include:

Mentoring Programs

• ABCN
• CareerTrackers

Employment

• First Nations Legal Internship
• First Nations Pro Bono and Social Impact Cadetship

Scholarships

• Yalari
• First Nations Scholarship (Qld)
• First Nations Scholarship (Mel)
• Cultural Safety/Support and Thought Leadership
• Monthly Let's Yarn blogs that provide learning opportunities for staff globally
• First Nations Employee Network
• Reverse mentoring opportunities
• Cultural Leave Policy
• Regular social media posts/articles/events that acknowledge and celebrate First Nations Peoples
• Cultural learning opportunities and advice for functions across Ashurst Perkins Coie (e.g. people & culture, events, procurement) to promote First Nations initiatives and advancement across the business
• Providing advice and support to commercial clients to further strengthen relationships and collaborate on initiatives