Orientation to the community legal sector in NSW

 

Welcome 

Have you recently taken up a position in a community legal centre? Are you wanting to find out more about the community legal sector in NSW? This page provides an overview of community legal centres in NSW, key relationships, and useful links to help you develop an understanding of the world of community legal centres in NSW.

Value of community legal centres

Watch this short video (two and a half minutes) where community legal centre practitioners from across Australia share their experience about the value of community.

 

History of community legal centres

Community legal centres have been in operation for over forty years. They were established in response to local communities recognising there was a gap in assistance for people who are vulnerable, and continue today to offer services in response to local community legal need.

Many community legal centres also include their history on their websites or in their Annual Reports. The following list includes links to some individual legal centre histories.

The work of community legal centres

Community legal centres provide free legal services including referrals, legal advice, casework, advocacy and law reform and Community Legal Education (CLE).

Watch this short video where practitioners talk about the kinds of services provided.

 

Here are some links to videos about the work of some individual centres.

Legal needs in NSW

The Law and Justice Foundation conducts regular research into legal need across New South Wales. You can find much more information on the Law and Justice Foundation NSW website under 'Research and tools'.

Community Legal Centres NSW

Community Legal Centres NSW is the peak for 41 community legal centres in NSW. Find a list of member centres here. 

Community Legal Centres NSW provides a range of services to support community legal centres and their communities:

Acronyms and Abbreviations 

Confused by all the acronyms and abbreviations? View an explanation of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations here.

Funding for community legal centres

Community Legal Centres can receive income from a number of sources, depending on the services provided. Government funding comes from both the Commonwealth and State Attorney General Departments, and is administered in NSW by the NSW Legal Aid Commission.

Community Legal Centres Australia (CLCA)

Community Legal Centres Australia (CLCA) is the national peak for community legal centres in Australia. All members of state peaks are also members of the national association. CLCA provides important member services including managing the national Community Legal Sector Insurance Scheme, managing the national CLASS data base for collecting service data, managing and implementing the National Accreditation Scheme and convening an annual national conference.

NSW Legal Assistance Sector

Community legal centres are part of the legal assistance sector in NSW which also includes Legal Aid NSW and Aboriginal Legal Services NSW/ACT.

Legal Aid NSW is a government-funded statutory body providing legal services, traditionally in criminal law, but increasingly in civil and family law. Find out more information about Legal Aid NSW here. The Community Legal Service Program within Legal Aid NSW administers state and commonwealth funding for community legal centres in NSW.

Aboriginal Legal Services NSW/ACT is the peak body for Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS) in NSW and ACT. ALS's are community-managed, independent organisations funded by government to provide legal services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For more information, visit Aboriginal Legal Services NSW/ACT.

Video: Aboriginal Field Officers from ALS in conversation.