Te Ara Ture is a pro bono clearinghouse. We refer legal work to volunteer lawyers.
Te Ara Ture means bridge to law. We connect legal need to volunteer lawyers. In this way, we bridge the gap between those in need and those who are willing to help.
Te Ara Ture is a division of Community Law Centres o Aotearoa Incorporated. We are not community law centres and we do not provide legal services.
We are funded by the Ministry of Justice.
Darryn Aitchison is the Director of Te Ara Ture. He has worked in community law centres since 2008, including managing Auckland Community Law Centre from 2016-21. Darryn established the Litigant in Person Pro Bono Pilot service at Auckland Community Law Centre in 2017 (a precursor to Te Ara Ture). He has researched effective pro bono practice, developed strong relationships with community law centres and the profession, and believes pro bono can make a significant contribution to the promotion of access to justice.
Lee DiFilippo is the Referral Manager for Te Ara Ture. Lee manages the day to day operations of the referral service, including receiving applications and making placements with our volunteer lawyers. Lee is United States and New Zealand licensed lawyer who has a passion for using her legal skills to ensure everyone has easy and affordable access to justice. She is also a board member for Nelson Bays Community Law. Prior to working for Te Ara Ture, Lee helped develop the Litigant in Person Pro Bono Pilot at Auckland Community Law Centre. Lee’s legal experience in the United States includes international human rights advocacy before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington, DC, and impact litigation to break down systemic barriers to justice in the Texas court system.