Northern Community Legal Centre - Legal Advice & Casework

LEGAL ADVICE AND CASEWORK

Who We Can Help

Northern Community Legal Centre provides free and confidential legal advice and assistance to people who live, work, or study in Merri-bek, Hume, and Mitchell Shire Council Local Government Areas.

Due to limited funding, unfortunately NCLC doesn't have the resources to assist everyone seeking free legal advice in our catchment. NCLC will prioritise assistance for members of our community who have or are facing multiple systemic barriers to achieving justice in their legal matters including those who are:

· Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

· Experiencing mental ill health, disability, or cognitive impairment

· Homeless

· LGBTIQ+

· Refugees and newly arrived

· Victims / survivors of family violence

· Young people under 25

NCLC may be able to assist priority clients by providing advice and referrals to other legal services or organisations. Depending on your legal matter, and our capacity and expertise, our Centre may be able to assist with further casework assistance. To be eligible for casework, a client must also have a reasonable prospect of obtaining a successful outcome and the area of law must be within the experience of our lawyers.

Please call us on (03) 9310 4376 to make an appointment. We can provide an interpreter on request.

OUTREACHES

To ensure that we are accessible to the community, Northern Community Legal Centre provides a range of outreach locations at other community organisations within our catchment area.

LEGAL PROGRAMS

What We Do Not Help With

We do not assist with the following:

Binding Financial Agreements
Business disputes
Conveyancing
Neighbourhood Disputes
Personal Injury
Personal Safety Intervention Orders
Wills and Estates

What We Can Help With

Please call us on (03) 9310 4376 to make an appointment. We can provide an interpreter on request.

VICTIMS LEGAL SERVICE

Northern Community Legal Centre is a Victims Legal Service provider. This means that we can provide free legal advice to priority clients who have suffered an injury or loss because of a crime. Learn more about the Victims Legal Service here.

Consumer Law

NCLC helps clients who are facing multiple systemic barriers with consumer law matters, including education fees, gym memberships, motor vehicle purchases and repairs, phone contracts, and rent to buy contracts.

Criminal

We can provide advice to priority clients who have been charged with an offence advice in relation to criminal matters. We do not provide advice or assistance for sexual assaults or family violence offences.

Debt

NCLC can provide priority clients with advice in relation to debts, including car loan debt, credit card debt, personal loan debt, telecommunications debt, and utility debts.

Visa Abuse

We can provide migration advice to women on temporary visas who are experiencing family violence. This includes women on partner visas and other forms of temporary visas.

Tenancy

NCLC lawyers provide advice to priority clients with residential tenancy issues, including bond payments, refunds and disputes, breaking a lease, compensation for tenants, family violence and tenancy, lease assignment, notice to vacate, rent increases and repairs.

Family Violence Intervention Orders

NCLC prioritises victims of family violence and provides advice through our family violence clinics at several locations. NCLC may be able to assist priority clients by providing advice and referrals to other legal services and organisations.

Family Violence Duty Lawyer Service

This service at Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court provides on-the-spot advice and limited court representation for Applicants in Family Violence Intervention Order matters on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Referrals are made through the Court. We do not make appointments.

Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal

NCLC provides advice about eligibility and the process of making an Application to the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal for victims of violent crimes that have occurred in Victoria. We may be able to assist with further casework, or provide advice and referrals to other legal services and organisations.

Employment

NCLC can provide advice about the minimum rights, responsibilities, and entitlements under Australian workplace laws.

Infringements

We can provide assistance to priority clients who have multiple driving, toll, parking, public transport and other types of infringements.

Family Law

We provide family law advice in relation to family law matters including divorce, parenting, property and spousal maintenance.

Motor Vehicle Accidents

NCLC provides legal advice in relation to debts arising from motor vehicle accidents and insurance company disputes.