Local CLC Impact Report
Local CLC provides free legal help to anyone in who lives, works or studies in the Local area, or otherwise has a connection to this community. Our services are designed to be appropriate to the needs of the Local community, and effective so that they have a positive impact for clients.
Local CLC’s contribution to the efficiency and effectiveness of the justice system
Local CLC provides a range of services that contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of the justice system including:
- Providing weekly duty lawyer services at the Local Magistrates Court for domestic violence applications
- Providing a family law clinic that assists unrepresented clients to prepare their documents for filing in the Family Court
- CLE sessions on how to avoid unfair contracts with mobile phone providers.
Local CLC’s contribution to legal policy and practice
This year, Local CLC engaged in a range of law reform activities:
- Discrimination test case - Local CLC provided representation and support to a client who experienced workplace discrimination. This case was heard at the Fair Work Commission and appealed to the Federal Court. The Federal Court not only determined that the client had experienced unlawful discrimination, but that the law is now interpreted by the Court in a way that will make it easier for future complainants to bring a discrimination claim.
- #FundEqualJustice campaign - Local CLC was an active part of the national #FundEqualJustice campaign which was campaigning against Commonwealth funding cuts to CLCs. Local CLCs met with a number of Federal government politicians and supported clients to tell their story about the importance of CLC services to their lives in local media. The #FundEqualJustice campaign was successful in reversing the funding cuts, with Local CLC able to maintain its current level of funding and services. See our case study below.
- Submission to the Queensland government review on tenancy legislation - Local CLC provided a written submission on the Housing Bill (Qld). Local CLC’s submission was particularly focused on ensuring that landlords could not prematurely terminate a tenancy without reasonable grounds. A copy of our submission is on our website.
- Queensland Consumer Alliance - Local CLC is an active member of the Queensland Consumer Alliance, which is a network of lawyers and community organisations focusing on the issues experienced by vulnerable consumers. This year, the alliance focused its attention on the long-running problem of payday lending.
What the justice system says about how Local CLC works
Local CLC surveyed 10 people working in the justice system that interact with Local CLC:
The Justice System survey respondents were largely from courts or tribunals. There were no respondents from other legal assistance services. The concentration of respondents from courts or tribunals enabled Local CLC to get strong feedback about its effectiveness in supporting the justice system, however those types of respondents may find it difficult to comment on Local CLC’s contribution to legal and public policy.
The majority of respondents agreed that Local CLC’s work was effective in supporting the justice system:
Survey respondents commented:
- 83% of respondents worked in a court or tribunal
- 17% of respondents worked in a government department
- Survey respondents were either in roles in court registries (83%) or in other non-identified roles (17%)
- 67% of respondents indicated that their level of interaction with Local CLC was moderate, with 33% of respondents indicating that their level of interaction with Local CLC was high.
The Justice System survey respondents were largely from courts or tribunals. There were no respondents from other legal assistance services. The concentration of respondents from courts or tribunals enabled Local CLC to get strong feedback about its effectiveness in supporting the justice system, however those types of respondents may find it difficult to comment on Local CLC’s contribution to legal and public policy.
The majority of respondents agreed that Local CLC’s work was effective in supporting the justice system:
- 83% of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed that Local CLC provided an effective service for vulnerable individuals and the broader community
- 79% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that Local CLC lawyers provided high quality services to their clients
- 81% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that Local CLC contributed to reduced incidence of non-appearances in court
- 83% of respondents agreed that Local CLC’s work lead to increased efficiency in processing cases
- 50% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that Local CLC’s work enabled them to be better informed on community views on legal and public policy issues.
Survey respondents commented:
Local CLC provides an effective service, particularly with clients who are experiencing stressful situations in relation to payments & explaining processes, and connecting them with other agencies.
The solicitors at Local CLC and the work they do provides a means for managing applicant and respondent expectations about law and court processes.
#FundEqualJustice
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At the beginning of last year, Local CLC was expecting a 30% cut to its funding from the Commonwealth funding, along with other CLCs across Australia. This meant that many of our services to our clients and community would be reduced by 30%, leaving people in Local community without vital legal help.
Along with sector colleagues, Local CLC undertook a number of activities to raise awareness in the community of the work of Local CLC, and the impact that funding cuts would have. These activities included meeting with local, state and federal politicians in the local area, telling the important stories of our clients in local media and raising awareness of the local community about the imminent loss of services. This year, the Federal Attorney-General announced the reversal of the funding cuts, attributing his decision to the effective campaign work of the sector, of which Local CLC was proud to play a role. |
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Our impact on the justice system
This year, Local CLC has contributed to the efficiency and effectiveness of the justice system by delivering services to our community that help people to navigate the justice system or avoid entering the justice system in the first place.
We did this through targeted service delivery that has direct impact on the effective operation of the Magistrates and Family Courts and by conducting community legal education that helps people avoid legal problems. A majority of our justice colleagues in courts and tribunals have said that our work assists them to ensure that the justice system works more effectively and efficiently.
Local CLC has been effective in influencing public and legal policy in areas that affect our community. Half of our justice system colleagues are of the view that we help them to better understand the issues faced by our clients and how the justice system addresses them.
Through strategic litigation, Local CLC changed the interpretation of workplace discrimination law, which will assist many more claimants facing illegal treatment in the future.
As part of the #FundEqualJustice campaign, Local CLC contributed to the reversal of the funding cuts to CLCs across the country. In the coming year, we will continue to work with Queensland Consumer Alliance on payday lending and work with decision makers about making tenancy law fairer for tenants.
We did this through targeted service delivery that has direct impact on the effective operation of the Magistrates and Family Courts and by conducting community legal education that helps people avoid legal problems. A majority of our justice colleagues in courts and tribunals have said that our work assists them to ensure that the justice system works more effectively and efficiently.
Local CLC has been effective in influencing public and legal policy in areas that affect our community. Half of our justice system colleagues are of the view that we help them to better understand the issues faced by our clients and how the justice system addresses them.
Through strategic litigation, Local CLC changed the interpretation of workplace discrimination law, which will assist many more claimants facing illegal treatment in the future.
As part of the #FundEqualJustice campaign, Local CLC contributed to the reversal of the funding cuts to CLCs across the country. In the coming year, we will continue to work with Queensland Consumer Alliance on payday lending and work with decision makers about making tenancy law fairer for tenants.