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| Areas of law and Services |
| Generalist legal service |  |
The main role of the General Service is to give initial legal advice and refer clients to private solicitors, other legal service providers or other appropriate agencies. However, we undertake casework, including test cases or public interest cases as the Service’s resources permit.
Community legal education, community development and law reform work are also undertaken.
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| Telephone advice | |
Information and referrals are provided by telephone to callers who live in rural and remote areas and who cannot attend TCLS office in person.
However, as TCLS has limited resources, we are only able to provide legal advice by telephone in particular circumstances.
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| Thursday evening legal advice service | |
Legal advice on any legal matter is available, by appointment, 6pm to 8pm on Thursday evenings.
Referrals are made to private solicitors and other agencies as appropriate.
These evening services would not be possible without the volunteer workers who give generously of their time and expertise to support TCLS and its objectives.
Appointments can be made by phoning during office hours, Monday to Thursday. The office is closed on Fridays to allow staff to attend to administrative duties.
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| Welfare rights service | |
A solicitor providing Welfare Rights services to the public is also available by appointment during office hours to assist with matters including:
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 | appeals against government departments such as Centrelink; | |
access to your files held by various departments using Freedom of Information legislation; | |
representation in administrative appeals and before various Tribunals. |
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| Financial counselling service | |
The Financial Counselling Service assists individuals and families who are experiencing personal financial difficulties by providing the following services:
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| information on budgeting, dealing with creditors and bankruptcy; | |
advocacy; | |
negotiation with creditors; | |
support; | |
referral. |
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Other services provided to the community by the Financial Counsellor include:
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| community education – topics include budgeting, financial management, Consumer Credit legislation; | |
community development; | |
social action; | |
law reform. |
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| Registered migration agency | |
Migration advice and assistance is available from a Registered Migration Agent and lawyer, by appointment.
In Australia, only those registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (and listed on the Register of Migration Agents) can provide immigration assistance, except where an exemption is provided for by the Migration Act 1958 and or the Migration Agents Regulations 1998.
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| Casework Guidelines | |
TCLS provides services under funding arrangements with state and federal governments. These funding arrangements require TCLS to target its limited resources to certain areas of work. The types of work undertaken is set out in service guidlelines.
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| Insurance | |
All services provided by TCLS are covered by appropriate insurance including Professional Indemnity Insurance through a group policy held by the National Association of Community Legal Centres (the NACLC). Our insurance policy and risk management policies dictate that some types of legal work are not undertaken by the TCLS, including:
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| Native title advice or representation | |
Mortgage services |
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