How Solicitors can help The Salvation Army
A chance to serve your community with The Salvation Army
Are you looking for a way to give back to the community? We are currently seeking volunteer solicitors to support The Salvation Army Community Wills Day Program across Australia.
Donate half a day per year of your time and legal expertise with The Salvation Army, to build your pro bono experience and help prepare simple Wills for members of your local community.
Payments received for this service go towards important local Salvos community programs.
Benefits for Solicitors:
- In addition to having simple Wills prepared, Wills Day attendees often wish to have Power of Attorney and Advance Care Directive documents prepared for a commercial fee
- Community Wills Days provide opportunities for new client relationships.
- The Salvation Army refers people requiring legal advice to our partner solicitors - a list of legal volunteers who have generously donated time with us in the past
- An opportunity to expand your philanthropy experience
As seen in Channel 9 News
Volunteer with the Salvos and help members of your community prepare a simple Will to take care of their loved ones.
For over 20 years, volunteer solicitors have supported The Salvation Army’s Community Wills Days. It only takes half a day per year to give back to your community. Be part of the legacy and sign up as a legal volunteer today!
All proceeds go to The Salvation Army’s essential services, to give hope to those who need it most.
Max Williams of HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
Hear from our generous volunteer solicitors
“Our lawyers and staff have been supporting the Salvation Army in their Wills Days for the past year. The Salvos are an organisation committed to providing social lift to the community and making a difference in people’s lives. We are glad to, in some way, help the Salvos in that mission through the giving of our time and skills. Our staff all look forward to assisting in some way, either in meeting to take instructions, drafting the Wills or just typing up and binding documents. Our staff all understand that in whatever way they help, they are also helping to make a difference and this gives them a real sense of meaning in their work. It has been a real joy for Munro Doig to be part of the Wills Days program.”
- Lester Ong, Munro Doig Lawyers
“The Wills Days provide a way for me to use my legal skills to give back to the community by providing simple Wills to the public and helping the Salvos raise funds to support the great work they do in our local communities.”
- Max Williams, Special Counsel, Accredited Specialist, Wills & Estates Law, HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
“The Salvation Army work hard, are humble and strive to make real change. We are proud to support this vital organisation, donate our time for Community Wills Days, and help The Salvation Army raise the necessary funds to continue the important work they do helping our community.”
- Natalie Comerford, Attwood Marshall Lawyers Wills & Estates Lawyer
“Our lawyers love taking part in Community Wills Days and knowing they are bringing their skills to the table to help people get their most important legal documents drafted, all while being able to support The Salvation Army and help them raise the vital funds necessary to continue their important work.”
- Donna Tolley, Attwood Marshall Lawyers Wills & Estates Department Manager
Please complete the form below to volunteer or to request further information.
How Solicitors can help The Salvation Army
Volunteering at The Salvation Army Wills Days can be very flexible. Donate half a day per year or more depending on your work schedule.
Our Community Wills Days provide community members with the opportunity to meet with local solicitors in preparing simple Wills.
The cost for a Will is $100.00 per person and $150.00 for a couple and includes a confirmed 30-minute meeting with the solicitor on the day followed by a final signing at your office once the Will is ready.
Each slot will run for 30 minutes with approximately 5-8 new clients per session.
Client Instruction Sheets are sent to each participant to complete in readiness for the solicitors to take instructions on the day.
You are not required to prepare anything before the day.
We do however recommend that you bring business cards to hand to clients on the day. This will facilitate any follow up and may assist in gaining further legal work at a later date.
When speaking to clients, please feel free to mention the importance of Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship. If you do and they are interested, please quote your fee upfront to complete each document.
No, you do not need to book your own clients. The Salvation Army Event Coordinator will manage all bookings and will provide you with a list of clients on the day.
No, you don’t need to send any paperwork to clients. The Salvation Army Event Coordinator will provide each client with a Client Instruction Sheet to complete in preparation of their appointment with you.
Each appointment will run for 30 minutes.
Should a client have a complex Will requirement (i.e. where a trust is involved), the interview should be terminated as soon as possible and the client advised to make an appointment at a later date with either yourself at a negotiated fee, or a solicitor of their choice.
We will happily refund their payment without question.
Yes, you are welcome to bring a colleague/ trainee with you. Please inform the Event Coordinator so we can ensure they are catered for.
Most venues will have parking available. The Event Coordinator will communicate alternative arrangements where parking is either limited or unavailable.
Each Wills Day is unique and will cater for a different number of total solicitors. Most events will cater for around 4-12 solicitors.
Each venue is different with various rooms available. In most instances, the Event Coordinator will arrange for private rooms where possible.
Yes, each room will have a desk and chairs for you and your client to use.
After meeting with clients at the Community Wills Day, draft Wills can then be prepared at your office. It is suggested that the witnessing of documents also takes place at your premises.
The Wills must be completed within 3 weeks after the Community Wills Day.
Yes, when speaking to clients please feel free to mention the importance of Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardianship.
If you do and they are interested, please quote your fee upfront to complete each document.
Funds raised on the day will go directly towards local Salvation Army community programs.