Footscray Community Legal Centre

Criminal, traffic, and motor vehicle related matters

The Centre deals with a large number of Criminal and Traffic related police prosecutions and matters arising from motor vehicle accidents. The majority of enquiries relate to matters for which Legal Aid is unavailable and clients have insufficient funds to pay private solicitors.

We can assist you with an application to Legal Aid to meet the cost of legal representation in cases of a more serious nature or can provide you with a referral to a local criminal law solicitor who could apply for Legal Aid on your behalf.

With limited resources the Centre does what it can to assist clients in addressing these issues. The barriers for clients in accessing legal representation remain a considerable concern if clients are to obtain access to justice. It is extremely difficult to get Legal Aid to assist with cases involving property damage from motor vehicle accidents.

Legal Aid Duty Solicitors are available at Magistrates' Courts to give advice to people and may be able to represent you in criminal or traffic offence matters if you are pleading guilty.

Legal Aid also produces a number of publications and holds regular classes to assist people.

Eastern Legal Centre produces a publication to assist people who have been involved in traffic accidents where property damage has been caused.