4.3 Community Legal Centres (CLCs)

Question 1

Generalist CLC

Answer 1

a community legal centre that provides a broad range of legal services to people in a particular geographical area of Victoria.

E.g. WestJustice (werribee/sunshine)

Question 2

Specialist CLC

Answer 2

a community legal centre that focuses on a particular group of people or area of law (e.g. young people, asylum seekers, domestic violence and animal protection)

E.g. Youthlaw

Question 3

Discrimination

Answer 3

unfavourable treatment of a person based on a certain attribute (e.g. age, gender, disability, ethnicity, religion or gender identity). Discrimination can be direct or indirect.

Question 4

Community Legal Centres

SOK

Answer 4

are independent community organisations that provide free advice, casework and legal education to their communities. Victoria Legal Aid define CLCs as “independent, self-managed entities providing fee legal services to defined communities.”

Question 5

What is the role of a CLC

Answer 5

• Provide accused with information, advice and assistance
• provide education to community to increase awareness of rights and legal information

Question 6

How are CLCs funded

Answer 6

• Cth + State Funding
• grants from government + privat sector
• volunteers

Relative Scarcity - prioritisation

Question 7

How can a CLC help an accused?

Answer 7

• Basic Legal Information - online, handbooks, education
• Legal Advice and Assistance - legal advice, preliminary assistance, applications for grants
• Ongoing Casework - legal representation + assistance for accused (often not for indictable)

Question 8

What is the criteria CLCs consider when assisting accused people

Answer 8

• Type of legal matter
• whether other assistance is available
• chance of success
• ability to assist

Question 9

What types of assistance do CLCs offer to victims

Answer 9

• Basic Legal Information - online
• Legal Advice / Assistance - preliminary assistance (e.g. applications / forms, phone advice)
• Duty Lawyer Services - family violence protection order / personal safety protection order ppl
• Ongoing Casework - providing casework / assistance for victims (involves representation - for family violence/financial

Question 10

What are the Strengths of CLCs

Answer 10

• Free legal info online
• information in different languages
• educate people about proceses/rights

Question 11

What are the Weaknesses of CLCs

Answer 11

• Insufficient funding (service gap)
• lack of assistance for those charged with indictable offence / vicitms of crime
• not enough staff / volunteers to meet needs