Overview

Sussex Street Community Law Service Inc

Sussex Street Community Law Service Inc is a 'non profit' non government community based organisation that provides access to accountable, non judgemental and effective legal services to low income people in the community. Sussex Street commenced operations in 1978 see history for the full story.

Sussex Street is an approved public benevolent institution pursuant to the Income Tax Assessment Act and has charitable status. Sussex Street Community Law Service was incorporated in 1985. Donations over $2.00 are tax deductible.

Sussex Street operates out of 29 Sussex Street, East Victoria Park. It is situated opposite the Park Shopping Centre next to the Victoria Park Library. Close to public transport we are within walking distance of Albany Highway and Berwick Street. Sussex Street also offers outreach services in Belmont and Midland contact the service for more information.

Services Available are;

- Legal advice in Family, Civil and minor Criminal Law

- Financial Counselling

- Welfare Rights Advocacy

- Tenancy Advocacy

- Disability Discrimination

- Individual Disability Advocacy

Sussex Street Community Law Service Inc gratefully acknowledges the support and assistance provided by the following without which we would not be able to provide the valuable services to the community.

Commonwealth Funding from the Departments of

• Commonwealth Attorney General's
• Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

State Government Funding from the

• Department of Community Development
• Department of Consumer and Employment Protection
• State Attorney General

Other Funding and support

• The Law Society of WA
• Town of Victoria Park
• Freehills

Volunteers provide a valuable contribution to the services delivered and we would like to acknowledge the assistance of all who are involved in service provision in any way at all and especially

• To the volunteer solicitors for our Night legal Services
• Students who whole heartedly participate in casework
• Contributors to chapters in the WA Law Handbook
• Past and present members of the Board of Management
• Freehills for its valuable assistance in funding a solicitor, providing solicitors on secondment and providing valuable pro-bono support in a number of other areas.

Overview of Community Legal Centres (CLC)

Community Legal Centres (CLC's) are independent non-profit organisations which establish their goals and priorities in response to the legal and related needs of the communities they serve.

Community Legal Centres primarily target their services to people who are ineligible for legal aid and who are unable to afford the services of a private solicitor. The services offered through Community Legal Centres complement the range of services provided by Legal Aid Commissions. Centres and their state associations are dedicated to working closely with commissions and their staff. Centres are frequently the first contact point of clients later referred to Legal Aid Commissions.

Centres aim to provide services to people who are Centrelink recipients, those on low incomes, or who have difficulty in accessing legal services, including people with disabilities, women, young people, Aboriginal people and people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds.

Of the 275,000 clients seen nationally

There are three main types of Community Legal Centres

Many generalist centres incorporate specialist programs and projects into their centres.

Community Legal Centres adopt a multi-disciplinary, holistic approach to the clients, whose needs may or may not be primarily legal. Many CLC'S employ social workers, tenancy workers, domestic violence workers and community legal educators in offering a broad range of preventative legal services, such as community legal education and the development and provision of information. For example, many CLC'S train community and social workers in other government and community agencies in legal issues which are pertinent to their clients. CLC'S produce a wide range of community legal education materials such a books leaflets, information and teaching kits, and audio and video programs They have proved over time to be prolific publishers of plain English information about the law; sometimes independently, sometimes in conjunction with commercial publishers including the major publishing houses.

Law Reform and Legal Policy

Community Legal Centres are well placed to identify deficiencies in the legal system which adversely affects people in their communities. They are in daily contact with people and their legal problems; they see patterns emerge over time and can often develop reforms which prevent those problems occurring. The education and policy development work undertaken by Community Legal Centres is directly influenced by casework.

Centres have played a crucial and well regarded role through the provision of advice to government; the development of policy; and work towards the reform of legal process and administration. Centres play an active role in advocating for the development of a fair legal system.

For further information on Community Legal Centres contact National Association of Community Legal Centres