Serving justice for all with Marrickville Legal Centre

Meet Marrickville Legal Centre

For disadvantaged members of the community, access to the justice system is made possible by not-for-profits like the Marrickville Legal Centre.

We interviewed them to learn more:

Tell us about your organisation.

Marrickville Legal Centre is a not-for-profit community based legal centre in Sydney’s inner-west.

We offer free legal advice and assistance to the community of the inner-west, south-west, southern suburbs of Sydney, and beyond. There are 1.5 million people living in our key catchment: that’s 30 per cent of Sydney’s total population.

We provide holistic support to people experiencing disadvantage in our legal system through free legal and related services. We advocate for equal access to justice, the protection of human rights, and we work to improve our local communities.

Marrickville Legal Centre has supported the community for 43 years. Since opening in 1979, we have helped many thousands of people who traditionally experience barriers to our justice system – including people with a disability, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people experiencing domestic violence, and people at risk of homelessness.

What is your mission?

Our mission is to promote social justice, and provide free and accessible legal and related services to people who are experiencing social and economic disadvantage. These services are responsive to the needs of those most disadvantaged, and promote just and lasting solutions to legal and social issues in our community.

Tell us about your programs.

Marrickville Legal Centre offers a few programs, depending on whether you’re seeking legal help, wanting to get involved, or are a law student:

• Legal Services: We provide free legal advice and support on various issues including tenancy, fines, employment, family law, credit and debt, and complaints about police or government agencies: (https://www.mlc.org.au/).
• Practical Legal Training (PLT): This program is designed for students undertaking their PLT coursework in New South Wales. It helps them develop practical skills through client intake, legal information provision, casework assistance, and administrative tasks within a community legal setting: (https://www.mlc.org.au/get-involved/practical-legal-training/).
• Volunteer Programs: Marrickville Legal Centre welcomes volunteers to support their work. We also offer placements for university students looking for practical experience: (https://www.mlc.org.au/get-involved/).

What are some of the challenges you’ve been able to overcome?

We work with our clients to help them move towards a better future. We are proud to bring people together to promote justice and protect human rights.

We aim to resolve any immediate legal issues and to link our clients to resources and services that will support them towards positive and lasting change in their lives, and in our community.

Marrickville Legal Centre faces ongoing challenges in ensuring people experiencing social and economic disadvantage have access to justice. Providing free legal services requires consistent funding.

The number of people needing legal aid often exceeds available resources. We have an amazing group of staff and volunteers who go above and beyond to try to meet this need but sadly, like many community legal centres, we do not have the resources to help everyone.

People should be able to engage effectively with our justice system, irrespective of their level of income. This is why we launched the Low Bono Legal Service (LBLS) in 2020. The LBLS service model offers affordable fixed-fee representation for those who cannot afford private lawyers, but are ineligible to access free legal support. Since its inception, the LBLS has assisted 364 clients, recovering $3.4 million in entitlements. The fees generated through this service have enabled MLC to employ an additional lawyer, which means we can help more people.

We are also working closely with Women’s Legal Service QLD, the Environmental Defenders Office, and Microsoft’s Barhead Solutions, to develop a new legal practice management system called Consensus for Purpose. Built on Microsoft’s Dynamics 365, Consensus for Purpose will streamline the entire client journey and reduce the administrative burden through automation and AI. This will free up our limited resources to focus on legal work and speed up the process for those needing help.

These projects capture the innovative culture at MLC that is forever exploring new ways to help more people. We will never receive enough funds from government or donations to meet demand, which is why we need to be more creative in how to do more with less.

At MLC we realize that effective communication is crucial. That is why we also provide interpreters and culturally sensitive legal advice to clients who come from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

How do you involve volunteers?

Our volunteers and supporters are the lifeblood of Marrickville Legal Centre, whose hard work helps us connect people to justice.

At MLC, we offer a variety of opportunities for people to contribute their skills and time.

• Daytime volunteers: By joining our frontline support as a Volunteer Client Intake Officer, you will help clients by assessing their needs and referring them to the appropriate solicitors and legal services.
• Evening Solicitors: Qualified lawyers can volunteer their expertise at the evening legal clinics, offering advice on various areas like family law, employment, and youth law. This role is ideal for solicitors who want to give back to the community.
• Administrative Support: Volunteers with administrative skills can assist the team with tasks like data entry, filing, and general office duties. This is a great option if you’re interested in non-profit administration and want to help improve access to legal services.
• Fundraising: For those passionate about advocacy, fundraising volunteers help secure resources to support the Centre’s work.

How do volunteers help you make a difference?

Everyone at MLC is working towards the common purpose of improving access to justice in our community. Marrickville Legal Centre relies on volunteers to fulfil various roles and contribute to our mission of providing access to justice. Volunteers positively impact our ability to serve the community through:

• Increased Capacity: Volunteers expand our reach, allowing us to serve more clients and offer extended hours.
• Specialised Skills: Lawyers contribute legal expertise, while administrative volunteers ensure smooth operations behind the scenes.
• Financial Sustainability: Fundraising volunteers help secure resources that allow us to continue providing free legal services.
• Increased Access to Justice: Volunteers help bridge the gap for those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford legal representation.
• Stronger Community: Our volunteers contribute to a fairer legal system and a more just society for us all!

What would you say to someone considering volunteering with your organisation?

If you’re considering volunteering at Marrickville Legal Centre, I’d say it’s a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference in your community.

By volunteering with us, you’ll be playing a vital role in ensuring people have access to justice, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status. Depending on the role you choose, you can gain experience in client intake, legal administration, fundraising, or even provide legal advice directly (if you’re a qualified solicitor). We have volunteer opportunities that fit various schedules, with daytime, evening, and administrative roles available.

Marrickville Legal Centre is known for its passionate team and commitment to social justice. You’ll be working alongside like-minded individuals who are dedicated to helping others.

Learn more about Marrickville Legal Centre

Membership

The Centre is proud to support organisations like Marrickville Legal Centre, doing important work in the community.

We became a member of The Centre to help build our volunteer team, raise awareness of the work we do, and increase visibility to a new audience. – Marrickville Legal Centre