Darebin Community Legal Centre Inc, in various incarnations, has been meeting the legal needs of people living in the north and north eastern suburbs of Melbourne since the late 1970’s.

In 1978 Northcote was part of the Fitzroy Legal Service (FLS) catchment area. By 1979 the Northcote City Council recognised the need for a legal service to be located in the municipality but was not prepared to accept responsibility for establishing such a service. Instead, the Council sought the assistance of FLS in meeting the legal needs of the Northcote community.

In response to this request, FLS began an outreach program in Northcote. At about this time Northcote Citizens’ Advice Bureau (Northcote CAB) informed Council that it would provide a legal service and referral service. FLS was concerned about this and approached Northcote CAB on the basis of providing an Outreach Law Program collaboratively.

In November 1981 the Outreach Law Program was established by the combined efforts of Northcote CAB and FLS. Differences arose subsequently between the organisations regarding the administration of the Program. A public meeting was held in September 1983 in an attempt to resolve these differences.

A Steering Committee was elected at the meeting to further investigate the need for a community legal service and gain support from local residents. Following this work, a further public meeting was held in mid-1984 and a community based Committee of Management was elected.

A new legal advice and referral service operated out of the Northcote Community Health Centre between 1985 and 1992. Northcote City Council provided the funding necessary to employ an outreach worker for one day per week to co-ordinate volunteers and expand the service.

Regular applications for funding from the Legal Aid Commission of Victoria were unsuccessful until 1988, when funding was secured to operate a two worker centre in 1989. In 1992 a further increase in funding was obtained by the Service enabling it to operate as a three full time worker centre. This increase was received from the Commonwealth Government through the Office of Legal Aid and Family Services (OLAFS).

Since receiving State and later Commonwealth funding the nature and extent of the services offered increased dramatically. To the existing Tuesday night advice service, was now added casework service provision during the day and on Wednesday nights.

In February 1995 the Centre’s name changed from Northcote Community Legal Service to Darebin Community Legal Centre (DCLC). The new name was chosen to better reflect the Centre’s large catchment area. It also reflected changes to local government boundaries made in 1994.