Where are the Community Enterprise Lawyers? Towards an Effective Ecosystem of Legal Support For Small-Scale Sustainable Economy Initiatives in Australia

This paper looks at legal support mechanisms for small-scale sustainable economy initiatives (i.e. small organisations that prioritise democracy, social relationships, and community development in their organisational structure and service provision) in Australia. It finds that limitations in support for these initiatives are influenced by the assumptions underlying not for profit and for profit legal structures, and between pro bono advice and expensive commercial advice. Through its attempt to transcend this divide, the paper emphasises the need for legal advice and support as a common pool resource.