JACOB ARCHER VOLUNTEER SOLICITOR THE IMPACT OF LEGAL COMMUNITY SERVICES

To better understand the need and impact that Legal Community Services have we will be discussing: What Services do Legal Community Centres provide? The Benefits these Services have on the community. The Risks of discontinuing these Services and reducing their funding. Some Facts about the Cost of Imprisonment in Queensland. How we can make a difference.

SERVICES Legal Advice Criminal Law Domestic Violence Family Law Power of Attorney Property Tenancy Issues Traffic Infringements

SERVICES CONT. Information Court Appearances Duty Lawyers Pamphlets Referrals Abuse Shelters Case Workers Counsellors Solicitors Mediators

BENEFITS Understanding Circumstances and consequences explained in an understandable way. Less intimidating than expensive law firms. Preparation Clients are taught about Court Appearances. Clients are taught about Duty Lawyers. Clients are taught about what documents to prepare.

BENEFITS CONT. Accessibility Easier to attend than law firms. More affordable than law firms. No billable time pressure. Perspective Understand their circumstances with more legal knowledge. Take more care in the future.

RISKS Without the help of Legal Community Services people may be disadvantaged in their matters. Unprepared Improperly dressed for Court. Panic and Stress. Don’t obtain support from Duty Lawyer. Poor Decisions Inappropriate Behaviour/Language towards Court Staff. Arriving late to Court. Make their pleadings impulsively.

QUICK FACTS Despite receiving minimal funding from LegalAid, the Bayside Community Legal Service helps approx clients per week with the help of volunteers Prison Census shows that of the 33,791 prisoners in Australia, 7,049 (20.9%) were in Queensland. The cost of keeping people imprisoned in Queensland from was $ per day ($110, annually).

THE DIFFERENCE WE CAN MAKE If we invest that $110, into a Legal Community Service, all we need to do is keep 1 person out of jail for a year. We can help people who don’t know how to deal with going to court, divorce proceedings or family disputes. We can help people in abusive and destructive family environments. We can help people get on the right track.

SOURCES Bayside Community Legal Service Information Report on Government Services 2015, Volume C: Justice, Produced by the Productivity Commission for the Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision services/2015/justice/corrective-services/rogs-2015-volumec- chapter8.pdf services/2015/justice/corrective-services/rogs-2015-volumec- chapter8.pdf Table 8A.7 Prisoners in Queensland: 2014, Queensland Government Statistician's Office aus-2014.pdf aus-2014.pdf