VLA and CLC's Flashcards
What is Victoria legal aid
VLA is a government agency that provides free legal advice to the community, and low-cost or no-cost legal representation for people who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer. VLA helps people with legal problems and prioritised people who need it the most and cannot get legal assistance any other way
What are the types of legal aid
Free legal information
Free legal advice
Free duty lawyer services
Grant of legal assistance
What is a community legal centre
CLCs provide people with information, legal advice and minor assistance, duty lawyer assistance and in some cases, legal casework services, including representation and assistance.
What are the types of clc assistance
Basic legal information
Initial legal advice
Duty lawyer assistance
Legal casework
Strengths and weaknesses/limitations in VLA achieving fairness
Strength: The provision of duty lawyers in the magistrates court provides advice and assistance to some accused persons, ensuring a fairer hearing for these individuals .
Weakness: Duty lawyers are not available to all accused persons in the magistrates court.
Strengths and weaknesses/limitations in VLA achieving equality
Strength: All members of society regardless of personal characteristics such as religion,wealth etc can access VLA’s published legal information
Weakness: The strict eligibility for legal assistance mean many accused persons are unable to
Strengths and weaknesses/limitations in VLA achieving access
Strength: VLA publishes free information about criminal proceedings and the court system, improving many accused person’s understandind of the court system.
Weakness: Most of VLA’s information is online, those with low incomes,homeless or elderly may not have access to internet to access this information.
Strengths and weaknesses/limitations in CLC achieving Fairness
Strength: Preferable having an accused self represent with knowledge and advice revieved from CLC as they are in a better position to present their case opposed to someone with no understanding of the law.
Weakness: CLCs often only provide assitance and casework for relatively minor criminal matters. further clcs cannot provide legal rep in court.
Strengths and weaknesses/limitations in CLC achieving Equality
Strength: CLCs often provide interpreter service to ensure those from non-english speaking backgrounds can access legal assistance, promoting equality in the justice sysyem.
Weakness: Legal representation not available for serious offences. CLCs usually provide assistance to those to those charged with minor offences, many poorer individuals charged with indictable offences who do not meet CLCs strict criteria will have to self represent.
Strengths and weaknesses/limitations in CLC achieving access
Strength:CLCs provide free legal advice and information, meaning education and information about the justice system is accessable to all local CLCs which can assist unrepresented accused understand their rights.
Weakness: Only available to some geographical areas. relatively few clcs are located in rural parts of victoria, limiting access to legal information and advice to those in remote areas.
