Financial Counsellors and the Legal System (From Improving Access to Justice: The Future of Paralegal Professionals -- Conference Proceedings, 1990, Canberra, Australia, P 81-88, 1991, Julia Vernon and Francis Regan, eds. -- See NCJ-129734)

• NCJ Number: 129744
• Author(s): D Nelthorpe
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 8 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

Financial counselors provide cost-effective advice and casework services to their clients, and it is argued that financial counselors are often more capable as advisors than members of the legal profession.

Abstract

The Department of Community Services in Victoria, Australia, began funding financial counseling services about 15 years ago and now funds about 75 services statewide. Financial counselors provide both nonadversarial services such as debt collection and adversarial services such as reviewing contracts to identify breaches of legislation. The Financial Counselor's Association of Victoria has developed a code of ethics which establishes the financial counselor in the role of advocate. Advocacy services relate to the provision of information about credit, debt, and other financial matters. Advocates are also involved in litigation, law reform, casework, consumer credit legal services, and the licensing of credit providers. Government administrators should consider the use of financial counselors to provide information and advice to financially disadvantaged consumers through departments of community services, consumer affairs organizations, or legal aid agencies. A successful financial counseling network will depend on the provision of an adequate and accessible support system. An appendix lists professional conduct ethics for financial counselors, minimum casework standards, file management and advocacy responsibilities, and legal knowledge requirements. 5 references