Victoria Legal Aid and Community Legal Centres Flashcards
Role of VLA in assisting accused
free legal information > available to all accused people
free legal advice > availability depends on persons income.
Role of VLA in assisting victims of crime
navigating the criminal justice system, including understanding their rights, processes involved, and options to participate in the criminal justice system.
getting advice or assistance with obtaining protection orders, > family violence intervention order, personal safety intervention order, etc.
obtaining financial assistance of compensation due to loss suffered as a result of a crime.
identifying other supports available to them > social or mental support, etc.
free legal information > available to all victims of crime.
free legal advice > available to victims seeking assistance with financial compensation for loss they have suffered.
duty lawyer services > available to victims most in need of legal help, children and adults with disability are prioritised.
Strengths of VLA
⁃ Free legal information:
enables people to become more informed, thus achieving the principle of justice of access.
⁃ free legal advice and representation
⁃ legal information can be provided in many languages.
makes sure everyone is included and no one is disadvantaged, completing the principle of justice of equality.
Weaknesses of VLA
the free legal information on the website may not be enough for certain people.
VLA does not have unlimited resources, this means criteria must be followed to ensure the people who need it the most receive it.\
the ability of VLA to meet demands for services depends on continued funding, as well as other factors.
Role of CLCs for accused individuals
basic legal information:
community legal centres provide basic legal information on a day-to-day basis. —> information can be given in person or online.
community legal centres also people with basic legal education.
legal advice and assistance:
community legal centres provide legal advice and preliminary assistance, such as help with writing letters and completing forms.
they can also help people apply for a grant of legal assistance from the VLA.
some community legal centres have a legal advice service that allows people to visit the community legal centre with or without an appointment.
ongoing casework:
some community legal centres will provide case work or assistance for an accused. this involves ongoing legal representation and assistance.
Role of CLCs for victims of crime
basic legal information:
many community legal centres provide legal information to victims of crime.
fact sheets and can be found online.
legal advice and assistance:
community legal centres provide legal advice and preliminary assistance such as help with making applications or filling out forms.
victims of crime can also visit community legal centres or call them to gain legal information.
Duty lawyer services:
some community legal centres provide duty lawyer services to victims of crime who are seeking a family violence protection order or personal safety protection order.
ongoing casework:
some community legal centres will provide ongoing casework or assistance for victims of a crime. this involves ongoing legal representation and assistance.
What is VLA
victoria legal aid is a government agency which provides free legal information to the community and free legal advice and legal representation for those who cannot afford a lawyer.
What are CLCs
community legal centres provide accused people with information, legal advice and ongoing assistance in a case. they also provide legal education to the community so that there is a greater awareness of rights and understand of legal information, and they advocate for changes to the justice system to address what they see as unfair laws, policies or practices.
