2023 Annual Progress Report
Arnold Bloch Leibler published the Statement of Commitment in 2021 and updated the
annual priorities in December 2022.
The Statement of Commitment is intended to capture the responsibilities and obligations of the firm’s Partners and staff in support of Indigenous self-determination, and records the firm’s longstanding commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, organisations and individuals over nearly 30 years. It also sets out the AISN’s initiatives, activities and annual priorities and features some of the clients Arnold Bloch Leibler works with and the causes we work towards in solidarity with First Nations Australians.
We have committed to revisiting and, if necessary, revising Arnold Bloch Leibler’s Statement of Commitment every 3 years.
Reporting
To ensure we measure the impact of the actions taken in line with annual priorities, in our 2021 Statement of Commitment, the AISN committed to reporting annually on the firm’s progress against our stated objectives and priorities, utilising a specifically designed impact model (ABL Impact Model). This requires the AISN to monitor, review and report on activities and analyse them qualitatively and quantitatively using the Impact Model.
As set out in the Statement of Commitment, the ABL Impact Model is designed to assist the firm and the AISN to:
- identify the rationale/objective of an activity so we can analyse the cause-and-effect relationship between activities and their longer-term impact;
- guide planning, design and execution of activities;
- identify where resources are best utilised; and
- encourage all staff members to view AISN projects within the wider organisational context.
This Annual Progress Report uses the framework of the ABL Impact Model to seek to meaningfully track and report on our stated “inputs”, “activities” and “outputs”. In doing so, we have collected, reviewed and reported on both qualitative and quantitative data sources. This process has enabled us to analyse our stated “outputs” and, ultimately, the “impact” the firm and the AISN have had over the course of the second year since the launch of the Statement of Commitment.
The ABL Impact Model has assisted us to reflect on our achievements and strengths as well as areas we can improve on next year and in the years to come, and has formed part of the development of our priorities for 2024.
The ABL Impact Model stems from “Theory of Change” methodology which seeks to comprehensively map out the steps required to achieve long-term goals. We acknowledge that this methodology has its limitations and should never be used to position us as a law firm as the central ‘change makers’.
We remain very conscious of the fact that meaningful change for the better should only be informed and led by First Nations peoples and communities, with their representative organisations providing support where appropriate.
The AISN also acknowledges that, while our objective and priorities must always remain informed by the views and aspirations of First Nations peoples, we must at times make decisions regarding the intermediary steps we take as a committee to achieve those priorities without direct input from First Nations people.
We also recognise that the way we operate as an internal committee, comprised entirely of Arnold Bloch Leibler Partners and staff, is necessarily different to the way the firm operates in service of its First Nations clients. Recognising and appreciating these nuances, we will continue to reflect on the ABL Impact Model as the mechanism by which we track and report on our work.
In addition to committing to producing an Annual Progress Report, in 2021 the AISN committed to providing monthly updates to the firm’s Partners on the implementation of the Statement of Commitment.
In 2023, just prior to every monthly Partners’ meeting, the AISN provided monthly updates via Arnold Bloch Leibler’s public interest partner, Peter Seidel, who would then report on the progress of the AISN to the Partners.
The tabling of these updates at the partners’ monthly meetings continues to provide an effective mechanism that connects the AISN directly to the ABL partnership. Informed discussion at those meetings often follows the tabling of the reports, which again reinforces the fact that the important work of the AISN is recognised and highly valued by the Arnold Bloch Leibler partnership.
Priorities for 2023
The priorities for 2023 were:
- to work closely with the Human Resources team to develop a process for connecting more effectively with new starters, including new graduates and lateral hires, to ensure that the AISN is accessible to all Arnold Bloch Leibler employees, and to facilitate staff participation in AISN activities and work;
- to expand on the work done to include Indigenous place names in Arnold Bloch Leibler branding, including incorporating suggestions received from members of the firm in response to the initial rollout;
- to further strengthen and expand on the formal Indigenous cultural awareness training program, including considering alternative formats and sessions and perspectives;
- to distribute the AISN newsletter externally to clients, advisers and friends of the firm to circulate with their teams;
- to host events, both internal and (where appropriate) external, throughout the year to raise awareness of topical Indigenous legal issues and to celebrate Indigenous culture, including:
- panel or Q&A, “In Conversation” style events;
- other events, such as film screenings;
- excursions for interested staff members; and
- presentations by Arnold Bloch Leibler staff regarding matters for Indigenous clients involving interesting or topical legal issues;
- to host at least four AISN Book Club meetings at the firm;
- to host or sponsor networking events targeted at First Nations law students;
- to continue to work with the partnership to ensure that Arnold Bloch Leibler plays an appropriate role in facilitating the success of the referendum on the Uluru Statement from the Heart scheduled to occur in 2023;
- to finalise the audit of Arnold Bloch Leibler’s procurement practices, identify barriers that exist regarding Indigenous procurement and to develop guidelines or processes to address those barriers and ensure those processes allow for Indigenous businesses to be considered at every procurement opportunity. We will continue to procure goods and services from Indigenous businesses where possible whilst this process is underway;
- to continue to work with Arnold Bloch Leibler’s public interest law practice to build further on the firm’s work for and with Indigenous clients and causes; and
- to track and monitor the reach of AISN communications and consider how to maximise their impact.
Progress measure
Throughout 2023, the AISN engaged in activities and implemented initiatives in an effort to action the above priorities. In the table below, we have summarised those activities and initiatives against our priorities for 2023 to review the progress of those priorities. Further detailed reflection in relation to each of these priorities is set out in the body of this Report.
| Main priorities for 2023 | Progress achieved |
|---|---|
|
To work closely with the Human Resources team to develop a process for connecting more effectively with new starters, including new graduates and lateral hires, to ensure that the AISN is accessible to all Arnold Bloch Leibler employees, and to facilitate staff participation in AISN activities and work. |
The AISN Co-Chairs presented to the new graduates in their first week, in March 2023. Following that presentation, we sent an email to the 23 new graduates to encourage them to get involved in the AISN. We developed a template email to be sent regularly to lateral new starters within the firm and sent the email twice in 2023 to a total of 80 recipients. Human Resources staff assisted by compiling lists of new starters each time the email was sent. To improve on our progress in relation to this priority, we will:
For more detail, see ABL Indigenous Solidarity Network. |
|
To expand on the work done to include Indigenous place names in Arnold Bloch Leibler branding, including incorporating suggestions received from members of the firm in response to the initial rollout. |
The AISN has not addressed this priority in 2023. We have included obtaining permanent plaques with First Nations place names for the Melbourne and Sydney office reception areas as a priority for 2024. For more detail, see Awareness raising. |
|
To further strengthen and expand on the formal Indigenous cultural awareness training program, including considering alternative formats and sessions and perspectives. |
Arnold Bloch Leibler has continued to ensure our current Indigenous cultural awareness training program, run by Leon EGAN of Bundyi Giilang Indigenous Education Consulting, is provided to staff, including as part of the firm’s Supervised Legal Training program for law graduates. However, further work can be done to strengthen and expand on the existing offering, including by rolling out the training to Partners and offering a second, follow up session to staff who have completed the first session. For more detail, see Awareness raising. |
|
To distribute the AISN newsletter externally to clients, advisers and friends of the firm to circulate with their teams. |
Throughout 2023, the AISN explored options for external distribution of the AISN newsletter. Discussions are ongoing regarding wider circulation. Plans are also underway to circulate a Gift-Giving Guide and Summer Content List to select clients of the firm. Further, long form versions of articles in the AISN newsletter have been published on the external ABL website. For more detail, see ABL Indigenous Solidarity Network. |
|
To host events, both internal and (where appropriate) external, throughout the year to raise awareness of topical Indigenous legal issues and to celebrate Indigenous art and culture, including:
|
Throughout 2023, the AISN has organised several significant events, in particular in relation to the Voice proposal and referendum, and to celebrate Indigenous art and culture. Key events included:
For more detail, see Leadership & advocacy and Events. |
|
To host at least four AISN Book Club meetings at the firm. |
The AISN hosted four Book Clubs in 2023. For more detail, see Book club. |
|
To host or sponsor networking events targeted at First Nations law students. |
In 2023, the AISN re-established contact with Tarwirri – Indigenous Law Students and Lawyers Association of Victoria. The AISN expressed Arnold Bloch Leibler’s interest in being involved in the work Tarwirri undertakes, but those discussions have not yet culminated in a collaboration or jointly hosting or sponsoring an event. |
|
To continue to work with the partnership to ensure that Arnold Bloch Leibler plays an appropriate role in facilitating the success of the referendum on the Uluru Statement from the Heart scheduled to occur in 2023. |
Many of the initiatives and events hosted by the AISN in 2023 were focused on the success of the Voice referendum, including:
For more detail, see Leadership & advocacy. |
|
To finalise the audit of Arnold Bloch Leibler’s procurement practices, identify barriers that exist regarding Indigenous procurement and to develop guidelines or processes to address those barriers and ensure those processes allow for Indigenous businesses to be considered at every procurement opportunity. We will continue to procure goods and services from Indigenous businesses where possible whilst this process is underway. |
The AISN Procurement Sub-Committee reviewed the procurement practices of Arnold Bloch Leibler and other similar professional services organisations. This work culminated in a First Nations Procurement Guide, which provides an easily-accessible procurement list of First Nations business for use by employees of the firm, and the Procurement Questionnaire, an online form for tracking spending on First Nations businesses. For more detail, see Procurement. |
|
To continue to work with Arnold Bloch Leibler’s public interest law practice to build further on the firm’s work for and with Indigenous clients and causes. |
The AISN has continued its enthusiastic support of Arnold Bloch Leibler’s public interest law practice throughout 2023, and many members of the AISN (as well as the firm more broadly) undertake legal work for the firm’s First Nations clients. Members of the AISN regularly provide updates at committee meetings regarding matters they are working on involving First Nations clients. For more detail, see Public Interest law practice. |
|
To track and monitor the reach of AISN communications and consider how to maximise their impact. |
The primary AISN communication distributed to all staff of Arnold Bloch Leibler is the AISN newsletter. The AISN has worked with the firm’s Marketing team throughout the year to improve the readability and appeal of the newsletter and to continue to produce interesting and engaging content. The final edition of the AISN newsletter for 2023 may be distributed to select clients, and discussions are ongoing regarding wider circulation of the newsletter. For more detail, see ABL Indigenous Solidarity Network. |
