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Management Committee Members Introduction to CLCs 6 June 2013
} A “snapshot” of the Community Legal Sector } CLCNSW } Justice Sector Agencies } Current issues } A brief overview of the role of the
management committee
} Questions
Management Committee Members Introduction to CLCs 6 June 2013 } A - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Management Committee Members Introduction to CLCs 6 June 2013 } A - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Management Committee Members Introduction to CLCs 6 June 2013 } A snapshot of the Community Legal Sector } CLCNSW } Justice Sector Agencies } Current issues } A brief overview of the role of the management committee } Questions Lets go
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Let’s go back to the beginning…
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Where and when was the first community legal centre in Australia established?
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Fitzroy Legal Centre in Melbourne, Victoria 18 December 1972
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Name one reason why CLCs came into existence.
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Primarily because of a concern that many people in the community were unable to access legal assistance because of costs or other barriers. CLCs developed with a philosophy of holistic and accessible service provision.
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What is a CLC?
} A non profit organisation independent from
government, commercial and professional bodies
} Community-based organisation whose goals and
priorities are established in response to the geographic community and/or community of interest it serves.
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What is a CLC?
}
Aims to:
- carry on a legal practice
- develop effective ways of informing the community of its legal
rights and responsibilities
- provide disadvantaged sections of the community with access to
legal and related information and/or services
- advocate for the development of laws, administrative practices
and a legal justice system which are fair, just and equitable
- develop and maintain close links with the community it serves to
ensure that areas of unmet need are detected and appropriate services developed
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A brief history of CLCs
- Social justice movement in early
1970s
- Volunteer-run free legal
information and advice
- 1977: first CLC in Redfern
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Funding of CLCs
- Commonwealth
- State
- Public Purpose Fund
- Other sources (Fair Trading)
- Managed by Legal Aid NSW
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Areas of work/staffing in CLCs
- Civil
- Family
- Criminal
- Principal Solicitor / Coordinator
- Solicitors / Community workers
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Membership
- 37 full members (CLCs)
- 3 associate members
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Board and Committees
- Board
- Subcommittees:
Finance Staffing Aboriginal Legal Access Program Sector Development Membership compliance
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State Office
- Director
- ALAP Community Development Worker
- Regional Accreditation Coordinator
- Advocacy & Human Rights Officer
- Sector Development Coordinator
- Administrator
- Finance Officer
- Volunteers (interns, including PLT students)
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}Aboriginal Legal Access
Program
}Accreditation }Advocacy and Human Rights }Sector Development
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} Held February, May, August, November } 2 day meetings } Network meetings and professional development
sessions
} Includes General Meetings at end of second day } Legal Training Day and Leadership Day
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} Practice Insurance Committee (PII) } Coordinators/Directors/Sector Development } Law Reform & Policy (which has a number of
working groups)
} RRR (Rural, Regional, Remote) } Aboriginal Advisory Group } Community Legal Education workers (CLEW) } Administrators and Finance } Domestic Violence and Victims Compensation
committee
.
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} There are two meetings at each
quarterlies for which the CLCNSW Rules requires each member CLC to send a representative.
} PII and General Meetings.
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NACLC: National Association of Community Legal Centres Peak body for all CLCs in Australia. CLCNSW is NSW member.
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NLAF NSW Legal Assistance Forum
}An interagency forum that brings together key legal service providers across
government, non government and private sectors.
}NLAF aims to facilitate access to justice for socially and economically
disadvantaged people by:
- improving the way services and programs are designed and delivered
- promoting cooperative arrangements and collaboration between
- rganisations within the community and justice sectors
- promoting the development of innovative ways of servicing marginalised
groups in the community, based on relevant research and identified gaps in existing legal services.
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}Legal Aid NSW }Law & Justice Foundation }Law Society }Department of Attorney
General and Justice
}Bar Association }Pro bono partners
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}Rollover of funding
agreements
}Funding principles
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}Governance versus
Management
} Governance is the work of the Board, day
to day management is the work of Coordinator / Principal Solicitor / staff
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}Constitution - mission,
purpose & objects
} Do you have a copy / know what’s in the
constitution?
} Mission – what / how / why and “core
value”
} Does the mission statement truly reflect
the Centre’s work?
} Review regularly (annually?)
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}Legal and ethical
responsibilities
} Ensure adhere to Federal / State law } Effective HR, WH&S policies } Conflict of interest policy – Board,
management, staff, volunteers
} Understand Coordinator’s responsibility to
hire / fire staff
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}Strategic planning
} Ensure effective planning } Regular review of programs and services } SWOT } Translate mission into realistic & effective
goals
} Reporting processes against plan
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}Accreditation
} Understand and support the NACLC
accreditation scheme
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}Resources – financial and
people
} Oversee adequacy / funding / new
- pportunities
} Annual budget process – discuss /
understand / oversight
} Financial reporting procedures } Support Coordinator / Principal Solicitor
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}Public relations, promotion
and committee/board membership
} Ambassador for Centre
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}Governance training
} CLCNSW is able to provide this to all CLC
MCs in NSW
} Contact State Office for more information.
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