NCJ Number
63246
Journal
Legal Service Bulletin Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: (AUGUST 1978) Pages: 143-146
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE OPERATIONS OF COMMUNITY LAW CENTERS, AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME CITIZENS, ARE DESCRIBED AND CRITIQUED FOR AUSTRALIA AND ENGLAND.
Abstract
GOVERNMENT-FUNDED LEGAL AID SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA HAVE BEEN UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO DEAL WITH KEY PROBLEMS FACING DEPRIVED COMMUNITIES OR TO COPE WITH THE MASS OF UNMET LEGAL NEEDS IN A CREATIVE FASHION. THE INADEQUACY OF EXISTING LEGAL AID SERVICES ARGUES FOR CHANNELING AN INCREASED PROPORTION OF LEGAL AID MONEY INTO INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY LAW CENTERS, SINCE SEVERAL HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED AND ARE IN NEED OF FINANCING. LAW CENTERS IN ENGLAND, WHICH HAVE HAD TIME TO DEVELOP AN OPERATING STYLE, HAVE FOCUSED THEIR EFFORTS ON CASEWORK AND GROUP REPRESENTATION IN LEGAL AREAS OF PRIORITY NEED FOR LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES. CASEWORK IS DEVOTED TO HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, JUVENILE CRIME, WARDSHIP/CARE, AND WELFARE, AS WELL AS EMERGENCY SERVICE. TYPES OF GROUPS RECEIVING HELP FROM THE CENTERS ARE TENANTS GROUPS, UNIONS AT SHOP-FLOOR LEVEL AND LOCAL TRADE COUNCILS, AMENITY GROUPS, LOCAL ACTION GROUPS, ETHNIC GROUPS, WOMEN'S GROUPS, AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES IN GENERAL. INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY SERVED IS ENCOURAGED BY INCLUDING CITIZENS ON POLICYMAKING BOARDS. COSTS ARE KEPT AT A MINIMUM BY USING PARALEGALS AND NONLEGAL PERSONNEL WHERE POSSIBLE. ENGLISH LAW CENTERS ARE AN APPROPRIATE MODEL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTRALIAN CENTERS. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)