Having worked in an unfunded community legal Centre for nearly 20 years, I am led to believe that the Law Society is not very worried about the plight of marginalized, vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our society.

These are people who do not have the means to pay private/commercial lawyers and yet unable to gain grants from the Legal Aid NSW.

This category of people are the focus of community legal centres.

Toongabbie Legal Centre Inc has been functioning since 13 October 2007, from the Hall next to the St Anthony’s Catholic Church. This Centre was formally opened by the Federal Attorney General the Hon Robert McClelland (now Deputy Chief Justice of Family Circuit and Family Court of Australia). TLC then developed our out-reach legal service in Blacktown- this was formally opened by the late Sir Gerrad Brennan AC KBE (former High Justice of High Court of Australia).

There was a review of Community Legal Centres funding schedule in Australia by Dr Warren Mundey, which was commissioned by the Federal Government. The report was released on 28 May 2024.

Since then we have not had any clarity on funding for the community legal centres and potential support for new community legal centres.

The Law Society has failed in its role as a peak body to advance the cause of the disadvantaged, marginalized and vulnerable people, in conducting campaign for and on behalf of the community legal sector.

While there is so much talk about domestic violence, housing crisis and cost of living, many of these issues land up in legal disputes, where people need help.
Many of those disputes are simple but can seriously affect people, their mental health, and their relationships.

We need leadership to advance the cause of Community Legal Centres.

Susai Benjamin