Corporate Social Responsibility
“We see ourselves as an active member of the wider community.”
- Paul Woods, Melbourne Pro bono partner
Maddocks is committed to the communities in which it operates and the principles of Corporate Social Responsibility.
Pro bono
We take pro bono very seriously at Maddocks. We recognise that the community includes organisations and individuals working for the public good but who have limited resources available to improve and protect their work. We also recognise that many individuals in society cannot obtain access to justice without legal assistance on a pro bono basis.
We are committed to supporting these organisations and individuals in matters of public interest by providing our legal services on a pro bono basis. Our pro bono scheme operates across all of the firm's areas of practice. We assist clients with respect to corporate governance, commercial, tax and structuring advice, DGR applications, industrial relations, FOI as well as contract, property and estate disputes. We also advise pro bono clients on complex and sensitive complaints and decision review processes.
Maddocks is an active member of PILCH. We work closely with PILCH and other referral organisations to ensure that the needs of our pro bono clients are met quickly and professionally. Other organisations supported by our pro bono scheme include the Mental Health Legal Centre, Kids Under Cover and the Victorian Women's Housing Association.
All of our lawyers are encouraged to participate in our pro bono scheme. Our pro bono scheme is coordinated by a national committee led by our pro bono partners, Paul Woods (Victoria) and Peter Meades (New South Wales).
Sustainability & Environment
Maddocks is committed to operating in a sustainable and environmentally-responsible way. In keeping with the firm's vision of 'sustainable success', the Maddocks Environment Policy and Environment Plan align with the firm's strategic objectives of having an outstanding working environment, living our values and investing for the future.
Our Environment Committee monitors the environmental impact of the firm’s business activities. It devises and implements initiatives to curb any adverse effects. The committee conducts regular employee education campaigns and continues to investigate the viability of new green initiatives.
Maddocks published its first Sustainability Report in December 2010. Researched and compiled with the assistance of Netbalance, the report captures all aspects of sustainability throughout the firm and focuses on four primary areas: Business; People; Community; and Environment.
Maddocks Foundation
The Maddocks Foundation provides annual grants to Australian charitable organisations to support projects and programs in communities where we conduct our business. Grants are awarded by the Maddocks Foundation in June each year in the following five priority areas:
- General and Mental Health and Medical Research
- Welfare and Human Rights
- Environment and Energy
- Family and Local Communities
- Disaster and Emergency Relief
The Maddocks Foundation supports projects that are of particular interest to the firm and it is a requirement that each application is sponsored by a Maddocks partner or staff member.
Vinnies CEO Sleepout
Each year, leading Australian CEOs and business leaders brave the elements for a night to raise important funds for homelessness and awareness of homeless people by participating in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout.
This year, Peter Shaw in Sydney and David Rennick in Melbourne joined other business leaders in experiencing homelessness first hand for a night, to help raise money for this worthy cause.
For more information or to sponsor a CEO visit http://www.ceosleepout.org.au.
Maddocks Workplace Giving
To increase opportunities for Maddocks staff to be directly involved in financial support to the wider community, Maddocks runs a workplace giving program.
Through Maddocks Workplace Giving, partners and staff are able to contribute directly from their pre-tax pay to their favourite charity or charities.
Australian Legal Sector Alliance (AusLSA)
Maddocks is a member of the Australian Legal Sector Alliance (AusLSA). Members work collaboratively to promote sustainable practices across the legal sector. The collaborative and inclusive approach facilitates the development of best practice sustainability guidelines for the Australian legal sector.
Members of AusLSA commit to the AusLSA Principles, which includes a commitment to environmental reporting using the Environmental Consumption Calculator. The aim is to encourage members to measure, monitor and reduce their environmental consumption. The AusLSA Environment Consumption Report is not intended to provide a competitive framework whereby firms reproduce data and compare footprints. The size and structure of each firm has a significant impact on their footprint: larger firms, with multiple locations and a diverse client base tend, unsurprisingly, to have larger environmental footprints on a per capita basis.
The AusLSA provides a collaborative environment where all Australian law firms are encouraged to join and contribute to improving the sustainability of the Australian legal industry.