Background
The idea for this directory of legal services and resources originated with the Hunter Region Cooperative Legal Service Delivery (CLSD) project which is funded by Legal Aid New South Wales. The directory was compiled by staff from Disability Advocacy NSW.
The latest update of the directory can be downloaded in various formats from this website.
What is the Cooperative Legal Service Delivery Program?
The Cooperative Legal Service Delivery (CLSD) Program is a regionally-based approach to legal service delivery. In NSW, CLSD aims to improve outcomes for economically and socially disadvantaged people by building cooperative and strategic networks of key legal services and community organisations. CLSD is based on the theory that better coordination and cooperation in the planning and delivery of legal services will result in more efficient and effective use of scarce resources and improve access to justice for disadvantaged people.
CLSD Program objectives
The Program's three main objectives are to ensure that:
- economically and socially disadvantaged people are able to efficiently and effectively access legal services which can help them to understand, protect and enforce their legal rights and interests;
- consideration is given to legal need and equity in the provision of legal services and resources; and
- planning and delivery of legal services is approached in a coordinated and cooperative manner between service providers.
As part of the CLSD Hunter Strategic Plan developed by members of the group in 2006, a key strategy was to create a " 'nuts and bolts' legal directory". This idea was further developed in a workshop conducted by the Law & Justice Foundation and by working groups made up of Hunter CLSD members before the current directory was developed.
Aim of Directory
The aim of this directory which has been approved by the Hunter CLSD group and Legal Aid (the end funders of the project) is: "to improve the accuracy of referral to legal agencies in the Hunter for people who are socially and economically disadvantaged".
Law and Justice Foundation research (Pathways to Justice: the role of non-legal services -- Justice Issues Paper 1) indicates that it non-legal workers are commonly the first person a disadvantaged person approached about a legal problem. This research suggests that 'frontline' non-legal service providers are often the first to identify that a client has a problem which requires legal advice or assistance, even when that client has approached the service for help with other issues. For example, a youth worker assisting a client to find accommodation may discover that the client has large amounts of fine-related debt. Similarly, a doctor may identify that a patient is a victim of domestic violence or elder abuse when they present with certain injuries.
It is on this basis that 'frontline' non-legal service providers are identified as the primary audience for this directory. These include: community based support workers, front line staff in legal agencies, court and tribunal staff and relevant government department staff. However, even though the directory is aimed at frontline non-legal workers, the Hunter CLSD group also believes it will be a useful resource for legal practitioners (from both public and private legal sectors) as well as disadvantaged groups, particularly those within rural communities in the region who often do not have reasonable access to legal support.
Private Legal Practitioners: Private legal practitioners have not been included in this directory. However, private lawyers often provide substantial support for disadvantaged people through grants of legal aid, victims compensation scheme grants or pro bono work (free or at a substantially reduced cost). To locate private legal practitioners who can assist in this fashion, see the “pro bono” entries in the directory or contact the Law Society of NSW solicitor referral service.
Assisted and Supported Referrals - "Warm Referrals"
Law and Justice Foundation research and CLSD members have identified that key referrers often need to do more than just providing a phone number of a legal agency when a disadvantaged person needs legal help. This is particularly the case when assisting a person with a cognitive disability such as mental illness, intellectual or brain injury.
Instead, what is required in this type of situation, is a "warm referral". This involves contacting another service on the client's behalf and may also involve either writing a report or case history on the client for the legal service. In some cases, it may even involve attending the legal appointment with the client. This approach is often far more effective for clients who are hesitant to contacting other services or who simply may not have the means (such as a telephone) to contact the other agency. For example, in the Law & Justice Foundation study, one mental health service provider commented:
"I think it is incredibly easy just to refer them out. But I think with mental illness, or anyone that is seriously disadvantaged, that is not going to work because they won't (take) the referral. So there needs to be more hand-holding. So that means possibly people being able to go between a number of resources and act as a central coordinator to assist that person instead of just a referral. They don't just ring (they) make sure they don't fall through the cracks."
Steps in making a warm referral.
Some of the key steps in making such a referral for legal assistance may include some of the following:
- Doing basic research to identify the legal problem or area of law to properly target the referral.
- Contacting the legal service to ensure that they can offer appropriate assistance.
- Providing a background history of the problem and helping the client gather relevant documentation.
- When appropriate (for example, if the client has a cognitive disability) attending legal appointments or court with the client to help them understand the process.
The directory was compiled by Sonia Powazuk (Hunter Region CLSD Coordinator), assisted by Joan Ranger and Mark Grierson of Disability Advocacy NSW Inc using funding provided by Legal Aid NSW.
For comments or suggestion, please contact Sonia Powazuk on 1300 365 085 or at sonia.powazuk@da.org.au or use our feedback form.
