A guide to the free and low-cost legal services in Canberra. January 2013

Transcription

1 FREE LAW DIRECTORY A guide to the free and low-cost legal services in Canberra January 2013

2 Contents Page Cancer Patients 1 Centrelink 1 Consumer Law, Credit and Debt 2 Criminal Law 3 Discrimination 4 Domestic Violence Orders and Personal Protection Orders 5 Employment Law 5 Environmental Law 6 Family Law 7 General Law 8 Homeless Clients 10 Mental Health Legal Issues 11 Migration Law 12 Small Business 13 Tenancy Public Housing 14 Tenancy Private & Other Rental 14 Victims of Crime Financial Assistance 16 Wills and Power of Attorney 16 Youth Law 17 Legal Assistance (NSW) 17 Referral Information Form 19 Authority to exchange information form 20 Disclaimer: This publication is a guide only. While due care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the material contained in this publication, ACTLAF cannot take responsibility for any errors. i

3 CANCER PATIENTS Cancer Council ACT Legal Referral Service CENTRELINK Only for cancer patients and/or their family members. A referral service that connects clients with lawyers who provide free assistance to those who pass the means test. Clients who do not satisfy the means test can chose to have paid assistance. Can assist with drafting wills, powers of attorney, early access to superannuation, mortgage hardship variations, credit and debt issues, insurance claims and disputes, employment and discrimination and tenancy disputes amongst other issues. Call Cancer Council Helpline to contact the service. Cancer Council Helpline Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. Welfare Rights and Legal Centre Advice and representation Clients phone advice line for advice. Clients need to leave a message and their call will be returned. If the matter is urgent (e.g. an eviction), the client should make sure they say that in their message. Workers can phone the admin line to discuss whether a referral is appropriate or for urgent matters. Advice Line: Hours of operation: Mon, Tues, Thu, Fri pm Admin Line: Only staffed from 9:00am to 1:00pm every day. 1

4 CONSUMER LAW, CREDIT AND DEBT CARE Financial Counselling Services Information and advocacy Services for residents of the ACT. Clients can phone during the day or drop in to the After Hours service. CARE will refer clients to Consumer Law Centre when appropriate. Phone: (02) Free call: Weekdays 9.30am to 4.30pm After Hours Service 5.30pm to 7.30pm each Wednesday The Consumer Law Centre of the ACT Free information, advocacy and legal advice in the areas of Consumer law, credit and debt, telecommunications and fair trading matters. 1. Will advise workers calling on behalf of clients or with general legal queries (no means/merits test applied) 2. One-off advice available to anyone 3. Potential ongoing clients require assets/means/merits test Clients must meet CARE client criteria, which is: ACT residents on low to moderate income. (Those receiving government income support automatically qualify for assistance) For general advice or workers calling on behalf of clients, there is no means test. For referral (via CARE) and for general legal advice: Phone: (02) Free call: Advice and advocacy No grant of Legal Aid required Clients can phone Helpline or drop into Helpdesk. Helpdesk: 2 Allsop St Canberra City helpline@legalaidact.org.au Reception:

5 CRIMINAL LAW Aboriginal Legal Service Advice and representation Phone, , or drop into the office to make an appointment to see a lawyer. Phone: Address: 7/9 Moore Street, Canberra canberra@alsnswact.org.au Advice and advocacy No grant of Legal Aid required Assistance in applying for a grant of legal assistance for representation. Clients can phone Helpline or drop into Helpdesk. Helpdesk: 2 Allsop St Canberra City helpline@legalaidact.org.au Reception: Criminal Law Section Representation by Legal Aid duty lawyer Contact the criminal law section. Phone: criminal@legalaidact.org.au 3

6 DISCRIMINATION Disability Discrimination Service (DDLS) Advice and Representation Note: This service will resume in February 2013 Contact DDLS by phoning any time and leaving a message. We will call you back within 48 hours. If you cannot use the phone, then write, fax, or or have a friend or family member call the Centre to discuss your needs. Phone: Fax: wrlc@netspeed.com.au Address: PO Box 337, Civic Square ACT 2608 Advice and advocacy No grant of Legal Aid required Clients can phone Helpline or drop into Helpdesk. Helpdesk: 2 Allsop St Canberra City helpline@legalaidact.org.au Reception: Women s Legal Centre Women only Advice and Representation Clients can phone advice line. Workers can phone the admin line to discuss referrals and urgent matters. Advice Line: Hours: Mon to Fri 9.30 to Admin: Hours: Mon to Fri 9.00 to

7 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PERSONAL PROTECTION ORDERS Domestic Violence and Personal Protection Unit Duty lawyer advice and representation Contact the Unit with names of all parties involved. Phone: Address: Magistrates Court 4 Knowles Place Canberra Women s Legal Centre Women only Advice and Representation Clients can phone advice line. Workers can phone the admin line to discuss referrals and urgent matters. Advice Line: Hours: Mon to Fri 9.30 to Admin: Hours: Mon to Fri 9.00 to 5.00 EMPLOYMENT LAW Night Time Legal Advice Service (NTLAS) Phone and drop in service Tuesday nights 6pm to 8pm. Phone on a Tuesday from 6pm. Or Drop in to the service at Havelock House on a Tuesday from 6pm. Phone: Address: Havelock House Corner Northbourne & Gould Streets Turner (entry on Gould Street) 5

8 EMPLOYMENT LAW Advice No grant of Legal Aid required Clients can phone Helpline or drop into Helpdesk. Helpdesk: 2 Allsop St Canberra City helpline@legalaidact.org.au Women s Legal Centre Women only Advice and Representation Clients can phone advice line. Workers can phone the admin line to discuss referrals and urgent matters. Advice Line: Hours: Mon to Fri 9.30 to Admin: Hours: Mon to Fri 9.00 to 5.00 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW The Environmental Defender s Office (EDO) Advice on environmental and planning law. Aim to increase public awareness of environmental laws and remedies. Provides community legal information including online fact sheets & publications. Environmental law issues only. The EDO offers free initial legal advice of up to two hours. If further advice is required, the EDO Solicitor assesses a request for advice against the EDO s Casework Guidelines. Camilla Taylor Advice: camilla.taylor@edo.org.au 6

9 FAMILY LAW Aboriginal Legal Service Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients only. Care and Protection Matters Only. Advice and representation Phone, , or drop into the office to make an appointment to see a lawyer. Phone: Address: 7/9 Moore Street, Canberra City canberra@alsnswact.org.au Advice only No grant of Legal Aid required. Clients can call Helpline or drop into the Helpdesk. Helpdesk: 2 Allsop St Canberra City Reception: helpline@legalaidact.org.au duty lawyer service at Federal Magistrates Court Advice on court date Assistance to make court applications (but won t fill in forms) Appear for adjournments (but cannot run hearings) No grant of Legal Aid required. Purpose of duty lawyer service is to assist self-represented persons i.e. a person in court or asking how to go to court. It is not a general advice service. This is a drop in service only. The duty service operates at the Federal Magistrates Court. Address: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: 4 Knowles Place Canberra 10am to 1pm 11am to 1pm 10am to 1pm 1pm to 3pm 1pm to 4pm 7

10 FAMILY LAW Advice and advocacy No grant of Legal Aid required Assistance in applying for a grant of legal assistance for representation. Clients can phone Helpline or drop into Helpdesk. Helpdesk: 2 Allsop St Canberra City Reception: helpline@legalaidact.org.au Women s Legal Centre Women only Advice and Representation Clients can phone advice line. Workers can phone the admin line to discuss referrals and urgent matters. Advice Line: Hours: Mon to Fri 9.30 to Admin: Hours: Mon to Fri 9.00 to 5.00 GENERAL LAW Legal Aid Information/referral/advice/minor assistance, limited advocacy Clients can call the helpline or drop in to the helpdesk. Helpdesk: 2 Allsop street Canberra helpline@legalaidact.org.au 8

11 GENERAL LAW Night Time Legal Advice Service (NTLAS) Phone and drop in service Tuesday nights 6pm to 8pm. Clients can phone on a Tuesday from 6pm or Drop in to the service at Havelock House from 6pm. Phone: Address: Havelock House, Corner of Northbourne Avenue and Gould Streets Turner, entry on Gould Street. ACT Law Society Legal Advice Bureau Free 15-minute appointments at lunchtime on weekdays on any legal issue. Clients can phone the Law Society to make an appointment. Phone: Family Law matters Wednesdays only. Legal Advice Bureau solicitors are not available for the drafting of documents or for court appearances. Salvation Army Legal Clinic ACT Law Society Pro Bono Clearing House Free advice and representation on consumer debts, fines, interactions with government, employment and civil law. Free advice and representation on any legal issue. Clients can phone to make an appointment with the Salvos Legal Advice Clinic to see a lawyer on a Wednesday night. Workers are asked to send through a Referral Form. Clients can download an application form from the Law Society website. Or phone the Law Society to have an application sent to them. Phone: Fax: canberra.legal@aue.salvationarmy.org Location: 1 Elder Street, Braddon ACT 2612 Phone: Website: 9

12 HOMELESS CLIENTS Street Law Clients who are homeless or at risk of homelessness only. Advice, supported referral, and representation in some circumstances. If clients are homeless we are able to assist them with any legal issue. Phone Street Law admin line to talk to a lawyer or make an appointment for a client at Street Law office, or phone an outreach to make an appointment at one of our outreach locations. Phone, or drop in to the Street Law office to make an appointment to see a lawyer, or make an appointment at one of the outreaches below. Monday 12:30 2:30 Inanna Southside Tuesday (fortnightly) 9:00 11:00 Early Morning Centre Thursday (women only) 10:00 12:00 Toora Women s Day Program Friday 10:00-12:00 MARSS Phone: Or free call: 1800 STR LAW ( ) Location: Havelock House, Corner of Northbourne Avenue and Gould Streets Turner (entry on Gould Street). info@streetlaw.org.au 10

13 MENTAL HEALTH LEGAL ISSUES (CHALLENGE TO INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT ORDERS) Advice and advocacy No grant of Legal Aid required Assistance in applying for a grant of legal assistance for representation. Clients can phone Helpline or drop into Helpdesk. Helpdesk: 2 Allsop St Canberra City helpline@legalaidact.org.au Reception: Crisis Assessment Treatment Team (CATT) The Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (CATT) provides a 24-hour, seven day a week service used for assessment and treatment of mentally ill people in crisis situations. Phone the CATT Mental Health Triage Service. Phone: or Phone:

14 MIGRATION LAW ANU Migration Law clinic Advice Phone AIDS Action Council to make an appointment. Phone: Companion House (IAAAS funding) Provides assistance to people applying for a protection visa. Provides assistance to people from refugee background to sponsor spouse or immediate family member. Call Companion House during office hours or Sai Maung. Phone: sai.maung@companionhouse.org.au Advice and advocacy No grant of Legal Aid required Assistance in applying for a grant of legal assistance for representation. Clients can phone Helpline or drop into Helpdesk. Helpdesk: 2 Allsop St Canberra City helpline@legalaidact.org.au Reception: ANU Students Association Advice ANU students only. Provides advice on all areas of the law especially: Occupancy/tenancy agreements Consumer law Criminal law IP law Migration for appointment Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday or drop in. Appointments take precedence. Phone: (direct advice): sa.legal@anu.edu.au (appointments): Sa.admin@anu.edu.au Internet: Address: ANUSA Level 1, Building 17a, Union Court, ANU 12

15 MIGRATION LAW Immigration Advice and Rights Centre Sydney (IAAAS funded) Australian immigration law, refugee and citizenship law. Provides free immigration advice to financially disadvantaged people in NSW (during hours of operation) by phone or face to face (with appointment) and provides case assistance to some clients who meet casework guidelines. Also runs immigration education workshop/programs. Publications include the Immigration Kit, an immigration newsletter called Immigration News and various information sheets published on our website. ( IARC accepts warm referrals from community organisations, as well as individual requests. Referrals and requests are made by calling the IARC's administration line. Administration Line: Mon Fri 9am 5pm. Advice Line: Tue & Thurs 2 4pm. SMALL BUSINESS University of Canberra Small Business Legal Advice Clinic Advice on legal areas concerning small businesses during 45-minute consultations for a fee of $50. The clinic aims to provide initial advice and cannot assume management of matters. Clients can call the school of law or book an appointment via . Appointments take place at Bradley Allen Love offices 3.00pm-5.30pm, Tuesdays to Thursdays. Phone: legaladviceclinic@canberra.edu.au Address: Level 8, University Ave, Canberra City 13

16 TENANCY: PUBLIC HOUSING Welfare Rights and Legal Centre Advice and representation TENANCY: PRIVATE & OTHER RENTAL Clients phone advice line for advice. Clients need to leave a message and their call will be returned. If the matter is urgent (e.g. an eviction), the client should make sure they say that in their message. Workers can phone the admin line to discuss whether a referral is appropriate or for urgent matters. Advice Line: Hours of operation: Mon, Tues, Thu, Fri pm Admin Line: Only staffed from 9:00am to 1:00pm every day. Tenants Advice Service Tenants only (no landlords or realtors) Advice and Representation No means test for advice; there is a merits test for representation. Clients: Phone and leave a message between 10 and 11:30am Monday to Friday and an advice worker will return the call. Three attempts are made to return the call. If there is no capacity for the client to leave a message it means that demand is too high and they should try again the next day. Workers: If a matter is urgent, then you can call the admin line and an advice worker will contact the client. Tenants Advice Line: Hours of operation: 10-11:30 am Monday -Friday. Admin Line: Web site: 14

17 TENANCY: PRIVATE & OTHER RENTAL Welfare Rights and Legal centre Advice and representation for clients with health care cards only Clients phone advice line for advice. Clients need to leave a message and their call will be returned. If the matter is urgent (e.g. an eviction), the client should make sure they say that in their message. Workers can phone the admin line to discuss whether a referral is appropriate or for urgent matters. Advice Line: Hours of operation: Mon, Tues, Thu, Fri pm Admin Line: Only staffed from 9:00am to 1:00pm every day. Advice no grant of legal aid required Clients can phone Helpline or drop into Helpdesk. Helpdesk: 2 Allsop street Canberra helpline@legalaidact.org.au 15

18 VICTIMS OF CRIME (FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE) Advice and advocacy No grant of Legal Aid required Assistance in applying for a grant of legal assistance for representation. Clients can phone Helpline or drop into Helpdesk. Helpdesk: 2 Allsop St Canberra City helpline@legalaidact.org.au Women s Legal Centre Women only Advice and Representation Clients can phone advice line. Workers can phone the admin line to discuss referrals and urgent matters. Reception: Advice Line: Hours: Mon to Fri 9.30 to Admin: Hours: Mon to Fri 9.00 to 5.00 WILLS AND POWER OF ATTORNEY Public Trustee for the ACT The Public Trustee can prepare wills and enduring powers of attorney where the Public Trustee has been nominated as the executor and as the attorney for property and financial matters. Have client contact Public Trustee directly. Phone: Address: Ground floor, 221 London Circuit Canberra Hours: Mon Fri 9am to 4.30 Fees apply, see website for further information Website: 16

19 YOUTH LAW Youth Law Centre Clients must be aged years. Free and confidential legal advice, information, referrals and minor assistance. May make supported referrals to Legal Aid for representation. Accepts drop-in clients and referrals. Advice, information and referrals on all areas of law including Motor Vehicle Accidents, Tenancy, Debt, Family, Employment, and Criminal. Phone: Address: Level 1, 14 Childers Street, Canberra City Monday to Friday 12:00pm 4:00pm LEGAL ASSISTANCE (NSW) Family law and Criminal matters that occurred in the ACT Advice and representation Grant of Legal Aid required Clients can phone Helpline or drop in to Helpdesk. Clients must apply for a grant of Legal Aid. Helpdesk: 2 Allsop St Canberra City Reception: helpline@legalaidact.org.au Free legal services in NSW LawAccess Phone LawAccess for referral to appropriate agency, including Legal Aid NSW and CLCs Phone or search website Phone: Website: 17

20 LEGAL ASSISTANCE (NSW) Queanbeyan Local Court South East NSW Women s Legal Service Queanbeyan Braidwood Cooma Bombala Bega Advice and representation in Queanbeyan Legal advice for women only. Areas of law include: Family, domestic violence, employment, tenancy, discrimination, victims compensation, debt, Centrelink, power of attorney and guardianship. Duty lawyer service provided by private solicitors on a roster at Queanbeyan Court. Phone court to get a copy of roster. Clients can phone for advice. Tenancy advice SW Tenants Advice Service Telephone advice: Mon - Fri 9:00-5:00 Welfare Rights and Legal Centre Phone: Advice line operates: Tuesday and Thursday 10.00am to noon Freecall: Contact Megan Dove 251 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan Phone: or phone: Social security advice only Clients can phone for advice Phone: (no tenancy advice) Disability discrimination advice Clients can phone for advice Phone: Women s Legal Centre Street Law (generalist advice for homeless clients) Women only Advice and Representation Face to face appointments Wednesdays fortnightly in Queanbeyan, Family Law only Clients can phone for advice Phone Clients can phone advice line. Advice Line: Hours: Mon to Fri 9.30 to Admin: Hours: Mon to Fri 9.00 to

21 REFERRAL INFORMATION FORM Referral Date: Referring Organisation Contact name:... Organisation:... Phone: Client Information Client name:... Address:... Phone: Date of Birth:... Other Parties Details:... Brief outline of client s matter (attach additional pages if necessary) Referral Information for client Your appointment is with:... on:...time:... The address:...phone:... Please phone the following organisation and contact to make an appointment. Organisation:... Contact:...Phone:...