It began as a conversation over a couple of beers—two lawyers airing their frustrations about having to turn away victims of domestic violence who couldn’t afford legal representation. That moment sparked an idea that would go on to help thousands.
Jack O’Donnell (St Paul’s College 2009–2011, Senior Student in 2011, BA/LLB) and his colleague Andy O’Connor founded JustFund, a first-of-its-kind legal financing service designed to support people—primarily women—fleeing abusive relationships. Their innovative divorce and separation loan is based not on income or credit score, but on the borrower’s likely share of a property settlement.
Three years on, JustFund has helped more than 2,300 people and facilitated over $1.3 billion in settlements. The impact has been profound.
“We’d come to realise after spending years working in law that it is a really unfair system,” Jack told news.com.au. “We kept turning away really good people who deserved really good advice, simply because they couldn’t afford our fees—and that never seemed right to us.”
Unlike traditional lenders, JustFund assesses eligibility through a “family law lens,” estimating the borrower’s likely share of assets to be divided. This approach allows clients to access funds within days—often critical in urgent situations.
In Australia, one in six women has experienced financial abuse—a form of family violence that includes controlling access to money, incurring debts in a partner’s name, and excluding them from financial decisions. These tactics often leave victims trapped, unable to escape without facing poverty or homelessness.
JustFund’s mission is to empower people to take control of their futures. As Jack explains: “We hear time and time again from clients that our support is the difference between staying in an unsafe situation and being able to move forward.”
St Paul’s College is proud to see alumni like Jack O’Donnell leading meaningful change in society. His work exemplifies the values of leadership, compassion, and innovation that Paulines strive to uphold.
