St Kilda Legal Service Annual Report 2006-2007 - Community Law

Community Legal Education...aninnovative,flexible andresponsiveapproachto thedesign anddeliveryof CLEactivities‘Community Legal Education (CLE) is theprovision of information and education tomembers of the community, on an individualor group basis, concerning the law and legalprocesses, and the place of these in thestructure of society. The community may bedefined geographically or by issue.’(Guidelines for CLE Practice, National CLEAdvisory Group 1995)Community Legal Education (CLE) continues tobe an integral part of the Legal Service’s activities,complementing the advice and casework providedfor clients.The Service, where possible, takes an innovative,flexible and responsive approach to the designand delivery of CLE activities. CLE is recognisedas an effective means of communicatingpreventative measures and attempts to assistindividuals avoid legal conflicts or the escalationof legal disputes. CLE activities are planned,implemented and evaluated within a communitydevelopment framework.The aim of CLE is to improve access to justiceand the legal system by providing membersof our local community with legal informationand education that will empower them to makeinformed choices and raise awareness of theirrights and responsibilities under the law.The National CLE Network for the first timethis year has taken a snapshot/audit of CLE incommunity legal centres across Australia. Theaudit found that CLE is a widespread and growingpart of CLC work.Legal Issues for Professionalsin the sex industry (LIP) UpdateLIP was first published in 2001 by the LegalService in partnership with RhED (Resourcinghealth and education in the sex industry). Thepublication was so popular that it ran out of stockwithin a year. Many of the areas of law contained inthe booklet have undergone substantial changesand a new edition was well overdue. ConsumerAffairs Victoria (CAV) agreed to fund the update.The booklet continues to contain information ona broad range of areas of law relating to sex workincluding employment, taxation, family law, sexualharassment, victims of crime assistance, dealingwith the police and immigration. Thank you toproject workers Peter Lunt and Deborah Randafor the legal research and re-writing of the newedition. We hope to launch the new LIP beforethe end of the year.Industrial Relations SeminarFollowing extensive legislative change to theFederal industrial relations system, the LegalService held a seminar on employment law inJuly for young people, at St. Kilda Town Hall.Speakers included Damian Walsh, Barrister;Andrew McCarthy, Jobwatch; and Anthony Main,Unite. Thank you to the speakers for generouslydonating their time. The seminar was recordedand broadcast by 3CR.Family Law Training SessionFollowing a request from Windana, the LegalService gave a talk to workers on the changesto the family law regime. The session was wellattendedand there was a great deal of interest inthe subject. This talk has subsequently led to anincrease in client referrals by workers at Windanato the legal service.CLE, CPD & Volunteer trainingNew Continuing Professional Development (CPD)rules came into operation on 1st April, introducingrequirements for legal practitioners to completeannual training in ethics, professional skills,substantive law and practice management andlegal skills.By providing training sessions for volunteers wesupport their work for the Service and give them anopportunity to earn CPD points, especially thosewho hold a volunteer CLC practising certificate.The training sessions have been an opportunityfor volunteers to catch up with each other withoutthe demands of seeing clients. They also providea chance to discuss case work guidelines andlegal practice issues within the night service.This year volunteer training sessions have beenheld in two of the required fields - professionalskills and substantive law.18 Annual Report 2006 – 2007