Footscray Community Legal Centre

Legal services

Evening Advice & Referral Service
Legal advice and referral is provided by volunteer solicitors on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7.00pm. No appointment is necessary. People will have the opportunity to speak to a qualified legal advisor in a confidential interview.

This service is available to people who live, work or study in the Western Suburbs. The service helps people to deal with their own legal problems and provides information and referrals to services that may be able to provide further help. The Telephone Interpreter Service (TIS) can be used if required. The service is limited in the number of people that can be seen each evening.

On-Going Assistance
On-going assistance with legal matters is provided in limited circumstances. Appointments are available during the day. We may be able to assist you by providing advice, writing letters, helping with negotiations, applying for legal aid, or completing Court papers etc.

Because the Centre has limited resources we cannot assist everyone. The Centre does not provide on-going assistance in matters relating to personal injury, conveyancing, probate, complex Family Law matters or commercial business.

Appointments can be made at the Footscray Office by calling 9689 8444.

Interpreters
If you require an interpreter we can provide one.

If you are attending the evening service our volunteers can use the Telephone Interpreting Service.

If you are attending during the day we can book an on-site interpreter. Because we do not have the money to provide interpreters at short notice, unless your problem is urgent, you may have to wait two weeks for an appointment at the day service.

A Vietnamese Interpreter attends our office every Thursday afternoon. Appointments are essential.
We can also use the telephone interpreter to contact you.

Outreach
One of our solicitors is available for appointments at the Braybrook/Maidstone Community Centre every second Friday. If you want an appointment, call the Footscray Office on 9689 8444.

The Centre also outreaches to the DAS West Youth and adult 'detox' unit at Western Hospital and the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre to provide legal advice and legal education.

Applicant's Intervention Order Court Support Project
The Centre is the co-ordinating agency for the Intervention Order Support Project at the Sunshine Court.

Every Wednesday morning, at Sunshine Magistrates' Court, a solicitor from a Community Legal Centre attends to provide advice and assistance to applicants in family violence situations to get an Intervention Order.

The is a free service. You can contact us for more information.