Updates

November 04, 2016

Law societies issue open letter to PM, joining chorus of voices calling for legal assistance funding

Law societies nationally have joined the chorus of voices calling for sustainable funding for free legal assistance services.

In an open letter to Malcolm Turnbull published today, the law societies of every state and territory have called on the prime minister to reverse $35m of cuts to community legal centres, and to boost funding to legal aid and Aboriginal legal services.

October 28, 2016

Legal funding leaves services out of reach for many women facing family violence

Funding to provide free legal help for women facing family violence announced today by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will come as some relief to victims and the community legal centres who help them. However, it falls short of restoring Federal Government cuts and does not address growing need for family violence and broader legal help, according to the Federation of Community Legal Centres.

October 14, 2016

What’s the future of free legal help in Victoria?

The future of free legal help in Victoria will be the focus of a symposium at Melbourne Town Hall tomorrow (Friday 14 October). Achieving Justice will bring together community legal centres, Victoria Legal Aid, the Victorian Council of Social Service, Domestic Violence Victoria and key not-for-profit organisations working for social justice.

October 04, 2016

Access to Justice Review confirms the value of legal help services, need for increased funding

The Federation of Community Legal Centres has welcomed today’s release of the Victorian Government’s Access to Justice Review.

Undertaken by the Department of Justice and Regulation, the review was tasked with identifying ways to improve access to justice for Victorians to ensure the most vulnerable and disadvantaged receive the support they need when they have a legal problem.

September 06, 2016

Diary ruling a step towards greater scrutiny of damaging legal help cuts, community lawyers say

Today’s Federal Court ruling requiring the reconsideration of a refusal to release the work diary of Attorney-General George Brandis under freedom of information laws has been welcomed by the Federation of Community Legal Centres.