C
ommunity legal centres (CLCs) are not-for-profit community-based organisations. They provide pro bono (free) legal advice and other services to people who are disadvantaged or have special needs. They aim to promote social justice, equality, human rights and easy access to justice. CLCs provide services other than legal advice. Many CLCs also provide student legal clinics, community legal education, policy reform proposals and public interest law research.
There are over 200 CLCs in Australia in both metropolitan and rural areas. The national body that coordinates these CLCs is called the National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC). Each state and territory also has a coordinating body for its CLCs:
Some Community Legal Centres offer services in all major areas of law while others specialise in specific areas of law such as immigration or employment law. CLCs may also cater specifically to certain types of people such as young people, refugees or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Lawyers, paralegals, students and volunteers generally run CLCs. Some receive funding from the government while others rely on donations from charities, support from generous people, law firms and the public. Limited funding and budget restraints means that Community Legal Centres cannot help everyone. They can only provide full assistance to those most in need or those who have particular circumstances that make them eligible.
There are a number of Community Legal Centres dedicated to Aboriginal legal services. They provide professional and culturally appropriate advice to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. There are also specialist CLCs who offer advice and support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children such as in family law, domestic violence or care and protection matters.
There are also organisations that are specifically dedicated to Aboriginal legal service. These are not classified as Community Legal Centres as they form part of the Commonwealth funded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS) established by all states and territories. These legal services are not-for-profit and community controlled organisations. They provide a range of legal assistance services including:
- advice and representation in:
- criminal law;
- family law;
- civil law; and
- care and protection law;
- community legal education;
- prisoner support programs:
- law reform; and
- other advocacy initiatives.
The controlling body for these organisations is the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSIL) http://www.natsils.org.au/Home.aspx.
The state and territory bodies include:
This Legal Guide on Community Legal Centres provides information about these organisations and how they may be able to help you. Before making important decisions it is advisable to obtain legal advice specific to your situation. LegalEagle’s™ free directory profiles all lawyers in Australia. You can use it to Find a Lawyer near you.
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Warning: Information provided through LegalEagle™ is for general guidance. It is not legal advice. Laws and procedures referred to may change and differ between states, territories and nationally. There may also be important exceptions or qualifications. Only a lawyer providing formal legal advice can assess your particular circumstances to determine how the law will apply.