Joseph Friedman is an alumnus of Allens and founder of Australia's first national prison newspaper.

Joseph Friedman always nurtured a deep passion for writing. Then, as he moved through law school, a second passion emerged—criminal justice reform. Combined, these passions led him to pursue writing alongside his legal career, focusing on issues related to miscarriages of justice and the mistreatment of vulnerable people within the legal system. 

Most recently, Joseph founded About Time, Australia's first national prison newspaper. This innovative publication provides a platform for individuals who are currently or formerly incarcerated to share their experiences and perspectives. The inspiration for About Time came from Joseph's discovery of Inside Time, a successful prison newspaper in the UK. Recognising the absence of such a platform in Australia, Joseph set out to create a similar publication that would give a voice to the incarcerated community.

'About Time is a marriage of my two interests: criminal justice and journalism. But more importantly, it is something that is obviously highly valued in the UK and doesn't exist here,' Joseph says.

Joseph conducted extensive research, engaged with relevant stakeholders and secured funding and approvals from various corrections departments to get the publication off the ground. The newspaper, which launched in April, aims to provide news, education and a sense of connection to those within the prison system.

'Prison is such a closed off environment, those inside really have access to little. The idea of this paper is to provide a window into the concealed world of incarceration, and also to provide a voice to the incarcerated', Joseph shares.

Allens is proud to have played a role in supporting the establishment of About Time. A team of our lawyers provided legal assistance in setting up the not-for-profit company and securing deductible gift-recipient status. Amongst those who assisted, Associates Sevanne McGarity and Kristina Adzic and Lawyer James Royce said it was great to be able to support the passionate team at About Time.

'It's always interesting and enriching to learn about different people's lives and experiences. None of us had much knowledge about what an incarcerated person's lived experience might be before this matter came along. We've learned a lot'.

Joseph's journey is an inspiration to aspiring lawyers and advocates for social change. His unwavering commitment to justice and his ability to bridge the gap between the legal profession and community activism are truly commendable.

Visit www.abouttime.org.au to learn more or support the cause.