Media release: Clayton Utz grants $150,000 to youth care legal service

The $150,000 grant will help Youthlaw establish its "Young Care Leavers Legal Service" — a first-of-its-kind service for young people transitioning from out-of-home care in Victoria.

Now in its second year, the Access to Justice Award supports legal organisations to improve access to justice services and outcomes for vulnerable Australians. It is administered by the Clayton Utz Foundation, which has supported more than 320 charities through over $16 million in donations since its inception in 2003.

Clayton Utz Foundation Chair Angie Freeman said Youthlaw's advocacy for young people and its innovative approach to addressing legal need at a critical life transition made it a standout recipient.

Young people leaving out-of-home care often face significant legal and practical challenges at a pivotal point in their lives, Ms Freeman said.

Youthlaw's proposal combines legal expertise with a clear vision for creating lasting impact, helping vulnerable young people access the support they need to build stable and successful futures.

The applications submitted for this year's award demonstrate a deep commitment to supporting access to justice by organisations right across the country.

The Access to Justice Award will allow the "Young Care Leavers Legal Service" to employ a dedicated full-time lawyer to provide intensive, trauma-informed legal support at the critical point when young people exit care at age 18.

Youthlaw CEO Lee Carnie said too many young people leaving care have to navigate serious legal challenges without dedicated support.

This grant will mean young care leavers can access specialist legal help to resolve their legal problems and move forward with their lives after childhood experiences of violence, abuse and neglect.

It will allow us to open doors for young care leavers to access free, confidential and trauma-informed legal services - built from the ground up for young care leavers, with the time and expertise to address complex legal problems before they take hold.

The "Young Care Leavers Legal Service" will combine direct legal assistance, coordinated pro bono support, and partnerships with care, housing and health services to prevent legal problems escalating into homelessness, debt and criminalisation.

Beyond the valuable support this will give young people in our community, the 12-month pilot will also help us inform systemic advocacy and reform.

The inaugural Clayton Utz Foundation Access to Justice Award was granted to Inner Melbourne Community Legal (IMCL) in 2025 to deliver its "Resolving Barriers to Recovery" program, which embeds lawyers within health settings to provide legal support for people experiencing mental ill health.