1. Reconciliation Action Plan 2010 and 2009 Review

2. © Arnold Bloch Leibler
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3. Contents
Contents 1
Foreword 1
Arnold Bloch Leibler’s commitment and journey 2
Reconciliation vision 2
Arnold Bloch Leibler’s journey to date 2
Our RAP team 2
Reflections 3
2009 review and key learnings 3
Pro bono Indigenous support highlights 4
Summary of progress 5
Reconciliation Action Plan 2010 8
Provide support to Indigenous groups 8
Lead and encourage reconciliation among professional services 8
Build cultural awareness across our firm and in the community 9
Create opportunities in the legal profession 9
Tracking progress and reporting 9
Further information 9
Foreword
For us at Arnold Bloch Leibler, reconciliation is about contributing to building relationships between Indigenous and non-
Indigenous Australians and working together to achieve a shared sense of fairness and justice. These are the central objectives
of our reconciliation journey.
Reconciliation Australia, particularly through its flagship Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) programme, brings together these
objectives, or strands, and has played a transformative role in encouraging simultaneous efforts and embedding reconciliation
as part of everyday Australian life. Through RAPs, organisations of all kinds can become effective contributors towards a
reconciled Australia.
Arnold Bloch Leibler is proud to play a part in this collective process through its RAP and encourages other organisations to
become involved. The benefits of becoming a member of the RAP community are many. Of course there is the intrinsic benefit
of being a part of a movement that seeks to improve civil society by overcoming the inequalities between Indigenous and non-
Indigenous Australians. And for us also, we feel very privileged to participate in systemic efforts to promote diversity, empathy
and understanding. We acknowledge as well there are tangible benefits that flow to the firm, including reinforcing a high level
of staff morale and enthusiasm for working at Arnold Bloch Leibler through active engagement in the real work of reconciliation.
Over the course of 2009, Arnold Bloch Leibler has been proud to make progress in the implementation of its RAP, including by
applying our legal and associated professional expertise to assist Indigenous Australians in their efforts to achieve fair, just and
sustainable outcomes, assisting in building opportunities within the legal profession, encouraging other organisations to embrace
the RAP programme and further developing cross-cultural understanding within the firm.
The firm looks forward to continuing to work towards achieving the reconciliation objectives in 2010 alongside the other
organisations that have also made this important commitment for the benefit of all Australians.
Mark Leibler AC
Senior Partner, Arnold Bloch Leibler
Co-Chair, Reconciliation Australia
Reconciliation Action Plan 2010 and 2009 Review Arnold Bloch Leibler 1

4. Reconciliation vision
Arnold Bloch Leibler’s reconciliation vision is:
“To recognise, respect and celebrate Indigenous culture
and the unique relationship of traditional owners with their
lands and waters, and to work towards a society where all
Australians enjoy the same standard of living while each
community retains its own cultural identity.”
Arnold Bloch Leibler’s
journey to date
For nearly 20 years, Arnold Bloch Leibler has been deeply
committed to contributing to the cause of Indigenous justice,
acting for Indigenous communities and peoples and their
supporters. Arnold Bloch Leibler’s involvement with Indigenous
groups and their supporters commenced nearly a year before
the Native Title Act came into being. This occurred when the
firm received instructions from the Yorta Yorta peoples in 1993
to prepare a native title determination application. Arnold Bloch
Leibler remains committed to the Yorta Yorta peoples, as they
are to us, many years after their application was accepted as
the first of its kind by the National Native Title Tribunal.
The firm is dedicated to Indigenous capacity building, including
‘caring for country’ endeavours, and has partnered over the years
with a number of Indigenous and environmental organisations
and Indigenous communities to assist them in their efforts.
With Mark Leibler AC as Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia
and the firm’s long-standing passion for Indigenous rights, it
was only natural for Arnold Bloch Leibler to become involved
in the RAP programme, and in May 2007, the firm released its
Statement of Commitment to Reconciliation and launched its
first RAP in March 2008.
The cornerstone of the firm’s RAP is the ongoing provision of pro
bono legal and associated professional services to Indigenous
groups and their supporters. The firm has also built on this long-
term commitment by identifying a number of new initiatives that
further develop relationships, our respect for Indigenous cultures
and peoples and mutual opportunities.
Our RAP team
In order to formulate, implement and review the firm’s RAP, a
working group was formed.
The firm is extremely grateful for the support and guidance
provided by two Indigenous Australians who joined the group,
and made major contributions to our RAP. Uncle Henry Atkinson,
Yorta Yorta Elder, and Ms Kristin Dennis, a Pitjantjatjara woman
working with Uncle Henry at Monash University, have provided
us with invaluable advice on the role Arnold Bloch Leibler can
and should play in the reconciliation process.
The firm has also been fortunate to have Adam Mooney,
Reconciliation Australia’s Reconciliation Action Plan Director,
as a member of our RAP working group, benefiting from his
experience at Reconciliation Australia and in his previous role
at ANZ Bank as Head of Community Development Finance.
The other volunteer members of our RAP working group have
been drawn from across the firm and throughout 2009 members
of this group have included:
– Peter Buller, Accounts
– Kate Clark, Director of Human Resources
– Katie Elston, Marketing Communications Co-ordinator
– Stuart Giles, Marketing Services Manager
– Caroline Goulden, Senior Associate
– Tony Kelly, Lawyer
– Megan King, Lawyer
– Ashley Lewis, Senior Associate
– Ben Mahoney, Partner
– Leanda Nissen, Senior Human Resources Consultant
– David Pleydell (Co-Chair), Director of Marketing & Business
Development
– Emma Rattray, Lawyer
– Peter Seidel (Co-Chair), Partner, Public Interest Law
– Richard Stampton, Lawyer
– Margaret Steel, Lawyer
– Lily Tell, Partner
– Leonie Thompson, Partner
– Luc Valiquette, Finance Manager
Reconciliation Action Plan 2010 and 2009 Review Arnold Bloch Leibler2
Arnold Bloch Leibler’s commitment and journey

5. 2009 review and key learnings
When Arnold Bloch Leibler’s first RAP was being formulated,
through the enthusiasm of our RAP working group, many
creative and potentially productive ideas were generated. In our
keenness to develop a plan that would make a true difference,
to complement the areas in which the firm excelled and had
a proven track record, numerous tangential ideas inspired by
general interests of working group members were proposed,
from organising Indigenous art awards to addressing Indigenous
housing design issues. Our first lesson was to focus on our
strengths, the core offerings of the organisation and long-term
and sustainable actions. The resulting emphasis of our initial
plan, which remains as the foundation of our RAP for 2010,
was to continue to work with Indigenous communities through
the firm’s public interest law practice and to play a leadership
role in encouraging other professional service firms to institute
their own RAPs.
For Arnold Bloch Leibler, the development of a RAP was a
means of further formalising and extending our work in the
reconciliation process. In addition, the firm strongly believes that
the collective implementation of RAPs will make an enormous
impact on addressing issues of Indigenous housing, health,
education, training, employment, land and water management
and law and justice. Although the firm has worked with Indigenous
groups for many years, the firm recognises that there is much
to learn and is deeply grateful for the guidance, support and
contribution of the RAP working group’s Indigenous advisers.
Beyond that formal arrangement, we are also deeply grateful
for the guidance we regularly receive from the many Indigenous
clients and friends of the firm.
In the course of 2009, we saw it as important to engage actively
with, and openly seek ideas from, Indigenous Australians with
whom the firm shares networks, to enable our work to be
valuable and relevant. Indigenous seasonal clerks, members
of the Victorian Bar’s Indigenous Lawyers’ Committee and
representatives from Tarwirri all helped in further developing
our understanding of Indigenous issues, gave practical ideas
and philosophical suggestions, and provided clear ideas of
how to communicate and engage with Indigenous Australians.
Although the firm pursued its plan of acting as an advocate
for the implementation of RAPs, developing cultural awareness
both internally and externally was not a particular emphasis
of Arnold Bloch Leibler’s plan for 2009. On reflection, this area
could have been given more prominence in the formal plan. As
members of the firm were interested in developing an awareness
of Indigenous culture and issues, and cross-cultural training was
also identified as a very effective form of internal public relations
for the RAP, this developed quickly into a regular programme,
which will continue and will be refined.
The incorporation of feasibility studies into our action plan
has provided Arnold Bloch Leibler with a structured way of
exploring ideas, continuing to focus the emphasis of our RAP
and building on current actions for future RAPs. This approach
was also sympathetic to the firm’s culture, as the firm eschews
bureaucracy and is attuned to developing opportunities as they
arise. Rather than preventing us from acting, the subjects of a
number of studies were actioned in 2009, including commencing
to organise a forum to discuss reconciliation issues, providing
business administration mentoring to Indigenous organisations
and progressing the cultural awareness programme.
On the other hand, the feasibility studies gave us the opportunity
to undertake careful analysis and advance planning, and to
recognise that some prospective future actions were beyond our
current capabilities, including introducing a secondary student
mentoring programme. While Arnold Bloch Leibler used its RAP
as a foundation for its reconciliation-focused activities, the firm
also ensured that new and creative ideas and opportunities that
were generated during the course of the year were explored,
evaluated and pursued.
In addition to the firm’s ongoing commitment to providing pro
bono support to Indigenous clients, an overview of which is
provided in the next section, the firm experienced a number
of successes on many levels. With the aim of influencing
others to implement their own RAPs, it has been particularly
pleasing to learn from Reconciliation Australia that as a result
of our example, as well as the time spent with a number
of organisations discussing our RAP experience, several
professional services firms have joined the RAP community.
“Arnold Bloch Leibler’s RAP provided the impetus and the
framework for law firms across Australia to consider their
own contributions to reconciliation. Others have followed
but Arnold Bloch Leibler was the first, and the care and
commitment the firm took in developing and implementing
its RAP has set a high benchmark for the sector. In leading
the way like this, my fellow Co-Chair, Mark Leibler, is
‘practising what he preaches’ in the context of his day-to-
day life as senior partner at Arnold Bloch Leibler.”
Professor Mick Dodson,
Reconciliation Australia Co-Chair
On a very micro level, the awareness and engagement generated
by including the words ‘Arnold Bloch Leibler acknowledges the
traditional owners of country throughout Australia’ at the bottom
of e-mails was a very positive outcome, and this practice has
subsequently been copied by other organisations.
The firm’s relationship with Tarwirri, the Indigenous Law
Students’ and Lawyers’ Association, is also a source of pride
to the firm, including our ability to assist Tarwirri to continue
in its important work.
“Being the first law firm to launch a Reconciliation Action
Plan, Arnold Bloch Leibler continues to be in an industry
leader in the support of opportunities for Indigenous
people in the legal profession. Arnold Bloch Leibler has a
strong relationship with Tarwirri and remains the only firm
committed to financially supporting Tarwirri with its annual
donation, allowing us to continue in our core business of
supporting Victorian Indigenous law students and lawyers.”
Holly Charles Ireland,
President Tarwirri
Arnold Bloch Leibler recognises that the reconciliation process
is a journey. While action plans provide us with a road map of
where we want to go, we will encounter obstacles from time to
time along the way. And in making the journey, we recognise the
importance of remaining committed and open to learning. The
old adage “the more we learn, the less we know” rings true.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2010 and 2009 Review Arnold Bloch Leibler 3
Reflections

6. Pro bono Indigenous support
highlights
Indigenous public interest law matters
An analysis of the firm’s pro bono public interest law commitment
for 2008/09 revealed that, averaged across the firm, Arnold Bloch
Leibler’s fee earners carried out over 1500 hours of pro bono
work to over 40 Indigenous clients. Services included general
commercial law, native title, human rights, property and
taxation law advice.
Through its associated Indigenous and environmental support
work, the firm has been able to assist a wide range of Indigenous
clients. Following is a sample of matters undertaken in 2008/2009:
– Indigenous Peoples of Wadeye: in 2006, Arnold Bloch
Leibler lodged a landmark complaint with the Australian
Human Rights Commission on behalf of the Indigenous
people of Wadeye in the Northern Territory, seeking an
official apology and remedial funding for the prolonged
under-resourcing of their education. It is alleged that
Governments have discriminated against the people
of Wadeye for 30 years by grossly underfunding their
education. Conciliation of the complaint continues.
– Ecotrust Australia, a confederacy of Indigenous and
environmental interests: the firm assisted in the incubation
of this new and exciting organisation, which is committed
to promoting cultural and conservation economies across
Northern Australia.
– Yamatji Land & Sea Council: the firm assisted with
various pro-bono initiatives to complement our not-for-profit
fee-paying work (see below for details of Arnold Bloch
Leibler’s externship partnership with Yamatji).
– First Nations Foundation: the firm advised First Nations
Foundation, which aims to enable Indigenous people to
make confident and informed decisions about their financial
well-being; regarding the ‘My Moola’ programme, including
advising in relation to key agreements with banks and
credit unions.
– Wantok Musik Foundation: the firm assisted the Wantok
Musik Foundation through the creation of recording contracts
for Wantok artists and expos for the promotion of Indigenous
Australian and Melanesian musical talent to the world.
– The estate of Paddy Bedford: the firm acts on behalf of
the estate of the grand master Gija artist, Paddy Bedford,
the beneficiaries of which include a trust designed to assist
in the funding of schooling of his descendents.
Other key Indigenous clients include:
– Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria
– Aboriginal Tourism Australia
– Indigenous Law Students’ and Lawyers Association of
Victoria-Tarwirri
– Jirrawun Arts & Jirrawun Health
– Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations
– Reconciliation Australia
– Rumbalara Football & Netball Club
– Worowa Aboriginal College
– Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation
Externship with Yamatji Land and Sea Council
In 2009, one of Arnold Bloch Leibler Sydney-based legal staff,
Laura Passey, was the first lawyer in Australia to commence
an externship with a Native Title Representative Body. The
externship was with a long-standing client of the firm, Western
Australia based Yamatji Land and Sea Council. Arnold Bloch
Leibler agreed with Yamatji, through the facilitation of the
Aurora project, that 50 per cent of Laura’s billable time through
the year would be dedicated to working for the Council. This
was a major commitment for the firm and for Yamatji.
Yamatji Land and Sea Council is the native title representative
body for the traditional owners of the Pilbara, Murchison and
Gascoyne regions of Western Australia. The Council provides
a range of professional services to its clients, the traditional
owners of country. These services include providing legal
representation and research to assist with native title claims,
negotiating land use agreements, heritage protection services
and community, economic and environmental projects.
Throughout her externship, Laura worked on mining related
matters in the Pilbara region for and on behalf of Yamatji,
working for the most part from the firm’s Sydney office, in
accordance with the purpose of an ‘externship’ (as opposed
to an internship, where the lawyer spends most of the time
‘client side’).
The purpose of an externship is to systematise within a firm
(with offices on the east coast of Australia) work that can be
done remotely for Aboriginal communities that live and work in
the northern reaches of Australia, and to debunk the negative
perception that geographic distance is an insurmountable
obstacle to a professional services firm engaging in the work
of reconciliation.
Arnold Bloch Leibler was proud to be involved in such a cutting-
edge project, which for all concerned was an outstanding success.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2010 and 2009 Review Arnold Bloch Leibler4

7. Summary of progress
This report highlights the progress on the implementation of Arnold Bloch Leibler’s RAP in 2009.
As Arnold Bloch Leibler has taken a largely long-term view in devising its RAP, the majority of the action items are ongoing. In the
implementation of these actions, the firm has nevertheless achieved significant performance indictors.
Outcome classification
• Achieved • Ongoing / On track • Not achieved
Relationships
• RAP working group
Action Hold regular meetings of the firm’s RAP working group and disseminate outcomes.
Target Quarterly meetings with minutes published internally.
Progress Monthly meetings of the firm’s RAP working group were held.
• Promote the RAP programme and share our reconciliation experience
Action Conduct RAP information sessions and participate in professional development programmes.
Target Participation in four presentations.
Progress Members of the firm’s RAP working group, and particularly Peter Seidel, were and continue to be involved in delivering
many presentations to a range of audiences, including to other professional service providers, secondary schools,
universities and legal industry events. In addition, members of the firm’s RAP working group met and continue to
meet with representatives from numerous private and government organisations that were considering establishing
a RAP programme.
• Developing relationships with Indigenous students
Action Establish and develop a relationship with Tarwirri.
Target Identify and create opportunities and evaluate programmes.
Progress The firm agreed to support Tarwirri by providing a financial contribution to assist with its operations. In addition, the firm
provided and continues to provide additional support to Tarwirri in the form of financial assistance to assist in running an
Indigenous lawyers’ conference and provided strategic advice in relation to business planning and fund raising. The firm
also commenced working with Tarwirri on the development of a full-day programme for Indigenous distance education
law students from Deakin University.
• Feasibility study
Action Investigate hosting a forum to discuss issues of national and local importance to reconciliation.
Target Presentation and evaluation of concept.
Progress This feasibility study was completed and a suitable issue was identified. In conjunction with Friends of the Earth, the
firm commenced arranging a forum to discuss land justice in Victoria. Unfortunately, despite significant planning and
organisation, the event was ultimately cancelled due to conflicting engagements of key government representatives.
A commitment to hosting a forum has been included in the firm’s 2010 RAP.
Respect
• Reconciliation web and intranet pages
Action Create reconciliation pages for the firm’s intranet and web sites as hubs of information.
Target Create live pages on the firm’s intranet and web site and contribute regular updates.
Progress Reconciliation pages for the firm’s intranet and web sites were created and continue to be updated regularly, including
posting the firm’s RAP newsletter and details of RAP events.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2010 and 2009 Review Arnold Bloch Leibler 5

8. Respect continued…
• RAP news
Action Publish an internal RAP newsletter to communicate successes and developments.
Target Publication of a quarterly newsletter for staff.
Progress The firm launched a RAP newsletter title RAPport. This is published three times a year, as this was deemed as
appropriate for communicating progress in implementing the firm’s RAP and the impact of the firm’s public interest law
practice and RAP. The newsletter was, and continues to be, sent not only to all staff, but also to an extensive list of
relevant clients and contacts of the firm.
• Presentations to staff and clients
Action Invite members of Indigenous groups and their supporters to present to members of the firm.
Target Conduct a minimum of two sessions and monitor participation from across the firm and increased understanding of issues
discussed.
Progress Various sessions for all staff were, and continue to be, arranged with a focus on cross-cultural training, including drawing
on the services of one of the firm’s public interest law clients who is a highly regarded art administrator and curator to
provide an introduction to Indigenous art.
• Acknowledging traditional owners
Action Draft a range of alternative forms of acknowledgement of traditional owners for use at relevant meetings and firm
events.
Target Publication of acknowledgements on the firm’s intranet and adopt a standard protocol at relevant meetings and events.
Progress Various acknowledgements of traditional owners were developed and are posted on the firm’s intranet as a resource for
staff members for use at relevant meetings and firm events. In addition, an acknowledgement of traditional owners was
and continues to be included on all e-mails sent from the firm, which is a practice that has become adopted by a number
of other organisations, including Reconciliation Australia.
• Match making
Action Act as a match maker between Indigenous and non-Indigenous clients.
Target Facilitate the creation of relationships and track progress.
Progress The firm has made discreet connections as appropriate between Indigenous and non-Indigenous clients, including linking
business advisers, board members and philanthropists to a range of Indigenous groups. Our role as an Indigenous/non-
Indigenous matchmaker is highly valued by friends and clients of the firm.
• Support of Reconciliation Australia cultural initiatives
Action Participate in Reconciliation Australia initiatives.
Target Participate in Reconciliation Australia cultural initiatives and identify other opportunities to support Reconciliation
Australia.
Progress The firm arranged and continues to arrange events in support of key reconciliation-related programmes, including Sorry
Day, Reconciliation Week and the first anniversary of the Apology to the Stolen Generations. The firm also provides
ongoing support to Reconciliation Australia in other ways, including Mark Leibler AC fulfilling the role of Reconciliation
Australia’s Co-Chair, providing pro bono assistance, offering office accommodation to senior Reconciliation Australia
personnel and hosting board meetings at the firm. While the firm has previously sent participants to the Garma Festival
and intended to do so again in 2009, other commitments at the time prevented us from being involved. The firm intends
having a significant presence at the 2010 Garma Festival, and through Peter Seidel and his connections to Galarrwuy
Yunipingu and Sean Bowden, are acting in an advisory capacity to promote this year’s theme of education.
• Feasibility study
Action Investigate ways of further exploring opportunities in the area of cultural awareness.
Target Presentation and evaluation of concept.
Progress Although this feasibility study was included in the firm’s RAP for 2009 with the intention of potentially launching a
cross-cultural awareness programme in 2010, this was fast-tracked and three cultural awareness events were arranged
for 2009.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2010 and 2009 Review Arnold Bloch Leibler6

9. Opportunities
• Tertiary student mentoring programme pilot
Action Launch a pilot mentoring programme for tertiary students interested in the law and other service professions integral to
the firm’s operations.
Target Establishment of access to a minimum of six mentoring relationships.
Progress A mentoring programme was integrated into the firm’s seasonal clerkship programme for Indigenous law students.
The programme is presently Victoria-focussed. The firm is continuing to develop its networks with Indigenous tertiary
students studying law and other disciplines within and beyond Victoria.
• Tertiary law student programme
Action Offer a programme for tertiary students with an emphasis on Indigenous law students, featuring a cadetship, scholarship
and mentoring opportunities.
Target Formal offer of a seasonal clerkship and potential a graduate trainee position to a law student.
Progress Two Indigenous law students undertook seasonal clerkships at Arnold Bloch Leibler and subsequently an offer was made
for one graduate trainee position at the firm, which was accepted by the candidate. During these seasonal clerkships,
these law students spoke with members of the firm’s RAP working group, shared their experiences and provided a
number of suggestions, which have been incorporated into the firm’s 2010 RAP.
• Tertiary Indigenous student relationship development
Action Target and develop relationships with Indigenous law students.
Target Establish contacts with Tarwirri, the Indigenous liaison officers within universities and the Victorian Bar’s Indigenous
Lawyers’ Committee.
Progress Relationships have been developed with Tarwirri, the Indigenous liaison officers within universities and the Victorian
Bar’s Indigenous Lawyers’ Committee, which will be used to reach Indigenous tertiary students. In addition, the firm has
examined ways of working collectively with these key contacts. The firm has also undertaken a considerable amount of
work to determine other ways of connecting with Indigenous tertiary students, including through recognised Indigenous
recruitment web sites and other programmes.
• Feasibility study
Action Investigate the feasibility of introducing a business-mentoring programme to provide business administration mentoring
to Indigenous organisations.
Target Presentation and evaluation of concept.
Progress Discussion of this initiative revealed that business mentoring for Indigenous groups is already an integral part of the
firm’s pro bono and match making programme for Indigenous groups and their supporters and advice was provided to a
range of Indigenous groups, particularly in the area of corporate governance, general business strategy, marketing, and
fund and friend raising.
• Feasibility study
Action Investigate the feasibility of introducing an Indigenous secondary student mentoring programme.
Target Presentation and evaluation of concept.
Progress An investigation of this future initiative was undertaken. At this stage, given limited resources, few connections with
Indigenous secondary students and the firm’s narrow expertise in this area, the conclusion was reached that there are
other areas in which the firm could make a greater impact, including through the present major focus on tertiary students
and creating opportunities in the law. Connections have been made through Simon Nish and Tanya Hosch of the Rio Tinto
Foundation, to the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience, the new and exciting Indigenous secondary school/
tertiary mentoring body, as it extends its impressive reach into Victoria.
• Feasibility study
Action Investigate broader opportunities for recruitment and retention in the firm’s Sydney office.
Target Presentation and evaluation of concept.
Progress An investigation of this future initiative was undertaken and given the current size of the firm’s Sydney office and
feedback from Indigenous law students who have emphasised the importance of support networks within the office,
offering positive recruitment opportunities in the firm’s Sydney office is not yet feasible. This issue will however remain
on the agenda of the firm’s RAP working group.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2010 and 2009 Review Arnold Bloch Leibler 7

10. Reconciliation Action Plan 2010
Outcome classification
• Relationships • Respect • Opportunities
Provide support to Indigenous groups
By the end of 2010, the Arnold Bloch Leibler RAP working group will:
Actions Impact Target
Continue the firm’s pro bono commitment to Indigenous
groups and their supporters.
• • • Conduct annual audit of the firm’s public interest law
practice and publish results in an annual report and
the firm’s RAP newsletter with reference to Indigenous
groups assisted.
Maintain existing and develop new close relationships
with Indigenous groups and their supporters in order to
provide assistance where possible.
• • • Identification and creation of opportunities, and
introduction and evaluation of programmes.
Provide other support as needed and where appropriate
to Indigenous groups and their supporters, including
business administration mentoring.
• • • Identification and creation of opportunities, and
introduction and evaluation of programmes.
Continue to support Reconciliation Australia and various
Reconciliation Australia initiatives.
• • • Participation in Reconciliation Australia initiatives,
provide de-briefing presentations to staff where
appropriate and report on participation in the firm’s
RAP newsletter.
Act as a matchmaker between the firm’s Indigenous and
non-Indigenous clients and contacts.
• • • Subject to confidentiality, tracking, capturing and
disseminating learnings from match making relationships
among Indigenous and non-Indigenous clients and
business contacts.
Lead and encourage reconciliation among professional services
By the end of 2010, the Arnold Bloch Leibler RAP working group will:
Actions Impact Target
Promote reconciliation within the professional services
sector and among the firm’s networks.
• • • Participate in two information sessions and be available
as requested by Reconciliation Australia to meet with
organisations considering introducing a RAP.
Share the firm’s reconciliation experience.
• • • Participate in four presentations.
Work towards hosting a forum to discuss issues of
national and local importance.
• • • Aim to host one forum.
Reconciliation Action Plan 2010 and 2009 Review Arnold Bloch Leibler8

11. Build cultural awareness across our firm and in the community
By the end of 2010, the Arnold Bloch Leibler RAP working group will:
Actions Impact Target
Continue to build the firm’s internet and intranet
reconciliation pages.
• Maintain up-to-date information and seek feedback from
users on beneficial ways of further developing these pages.
Continue to publish the firm’s RAP newsletter.
• • Publication of three editions of RAPport.
Arrange presentations to staff, including cultural-specific
and law-oriented presentations as well as presentations
by Indigenous groups and their supporters.
• • Arrange three cultural-specific and law-oriented
presentations for all staff.
Support Reconciliation Australia cultural initiatives.
• • Participation in Reconciliation Australia initiatives,
provide de-briefing presentations to staff where
appropriate and report on participation in the firm’s
RAP newsletter. Provide assistance to Reconciliation
Australia wherever possible.
Develop material of inclusion in the induction programme
for all new staff members.
• Develop an information sheet for inclusion in induction
material for all new members of staff.
Create opportunities in the legal profession
By the end of 2010, the Arnold Bloch Leibler Reconciliation Action Plan working group will:
Actions Impact Target
Continue to partner with Tarwirri and provide an annual
donation to assist Tarwirri with its ongoing operations.
• • • Opportunities created with Tarwirri and the provision of a
financial contribution of $5000 per annum for a minimum
of five years.
Develop relationships with Indigenous tertiary students.
• • • Identification and creation of opportunities, and
introduction and evaluation of programmes.
Offer a programme for tertiary students with an emphasis
on Indigenous law students, featuring a seasonal clerkship,
cadetship, scholarship and mentoring opportunities.
• • • Offer at least one seasonal clerkship to an Indigenous
law student and one long-term cadetship.
Tracking progress and reporting
Channel Target
Reconciliation Action Plan working group meetings 10 times per year
Advisory Group Ongoing meetings with Indigenous advisers
Public Interest Law report Published annually
Report to partners’ meetings Monthly reporting
RAP newsletter Published three times per year
RAP review Annual report
Further information
For further details about our RAP and the firm’s involvement with Indigenous groups, please visit our website at www.abl.com.au.
If you have any questions about our RAP or would like to discuss implementing a RAP, please contact:
Peter Seidel, Partner–Public Interest Law
Telephone: 61 3 9229 9769
E-mail: pseidel@abl.com.au
David Pleydell, Director of Marketing & Business Development
Telephone: 61 3 9229 9839
E-mail: dpleydell@abl.com.au
Reconciliation Action Plan 2010 and 2009 Review Arnold Bloch Leibler 9

12. Arnold Bloch Leibler
Lawyers & Advisers
Level 21 333 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia
Telephone 61 3 9229 9999
Facsimile 61 3 9229 9900
Level 24 Chifley Tower 2 Chifley Square
Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Telephone 61 2 9226 7100
Facsimile 61 2 9226 7120
www.abl.com.au