Victoria Legal Aid

After contacting your canterbury family law lawyer local Community Law Centre, you’ll speak with a lawyer who is right for you and your legal issue. Legal problems can be serious and frightening, and for many people lawyers are completely unaffordable. But everyone has the right to high-quality legal help – that’s where Community Law comes in. Your first step is to find a legal aid lawyer you want to advise and represent you. We provide legal education on a wide range of topics and we run sessions from our offices and from other venues in the community. Search our education calendar here to find a public education session that interests you. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community and pay our deep respect to Elders past and present. Trying to resolve legal issues can be stressful, exhausting, and scary. Community legal centres give free and confidential legal help to people in need. These caseworkers are volunteers who will gather information about your issue. The lawyer will provide advice to them, which they will then relay to you. Our ability to offer these free services relies on the support of our dedicated volunteer caseworkers. If you book an appointment with us, you will be seen by a caseworker during your appointment. We often advise on tenancy issues, family violence, criminal charges, consumer and civil disputes. If you’re unsure if you have a legal issue please get in contact with us, if we can’t help we will direct you to those who can. We aim to resolve disputes and also support parties to consider their future needs and to improve relationships. You will need to make your own childcare arrangements, so you can fully participate in your intake and assessment and any dispute resolution session. Jodie is a social worker and nationally accredited mediator who runs a private practice, trains and supervises mediators, and acts as a restorative engagement facilitator with the defence abuse response taskforce. Practitioners who facilitate conferences (chairpersons) are appointed to the Family Dispute Resolution Service Chairperson panel and may be external or in-house practitioners. Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling behaviour towards another person. There are many different forms of domestic abuse, and it isn’t always physical or visible. You can turn up at any of the locations at the times below and receive support from agencies including Rising Sun, Kent Police, housing, drug & alcohol support, legal advisers and more. Our One Stop Shop drop-in centres in Canterbury, Ashford and Folkestone & Hythe provide you with free, confidential and immediate support from a wide range of professionals all under one roof. Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited (ALS) is a community-controlled organisation responsible for providing legal assistance to Aboriginal people in NSW and the ACT. The ALS provides legal advice, referral and casework assistance in the fields of criminal and family law (including care and protection), and in some cases civil law. Leading the team in Canterbury  is Managing Partner Emma Newman, a highly experienced, Legal 500-Recommended family lawyer recognised for her empathetic and constructive approach. Our family law solicitors provide clear, expert guidance across all matters of family law, from straightforward separations to complex, high-conflict disputes. We advise on divorce, financial settlements, child arrangements, cohabitation agreements, child maintenance, and all issues arising from a relationship breakdown. Canberra Community Law (formerly Welfare Rights and Legal Centre) is a community legal centre providing legal services to people on low incomes or facing other disadvantage in Canberra and its region. You must not use mediation for an improper purpose, such as to harass your ex-partner or delay the case. For more information, see Before you file – pre-action procedure for financial cases (prescribed brochure) on the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia website. For more information, see Before you file – pre-action procedure for parenting cases (prescribed brochure) on the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia website. In limited circumstances, you are not required to attend mediation. For more information, see Compulsory pre-filing Family Dispute Resolution – court procedures and requirements on the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia website. A family dispute resolution practitioner since 2020, Mary-Jo joined Victoria Legal Aid in 2023, where she now facilitates conferences, oversees clinical placements, and offers peer support and staff supervision. SWSLC provides a range of legal services and domestic violence support and advocacy services. We support people in our community to access justice with free services, particularly women and children affected by domestic and family violence. So it is best to seek professional and experienced legal advice so you can get through this challenging period of your life. With almost two decades experience in the legal profession, Anna is a compassionate and practical family lawyer who is dedicated to helping people navigate some of life’s most challenging moments. Driven by a genuine desire to support individuals and families, Anna brings a balanced and empathetic approach to resolving family law disputes with dignity and care.