Getting Legal Assistance
Overview of the Process
If you are over 60 years of age, cannot afford a private lawyer and require legal assistance please contact the Seniors Rights Legal Clinic (SRLC) closest to you to make an appointment to see a lawyer.
At the initial meeting it is important for you to bring along all information that may be relevant to the legal matter you are seeking assistance with. This information will assist the lawyer to make an assessment of your matter based on its legal merit and your eligibility (ie that you are over 60 and are not able to access legal assistance through other means).
It may be that the advice you need can be provided in that first session. If your matter requires more than one-off advice, your SRLC lawyers will provide ongoing legal advice for free. If we are unable to assist you because your matter falls outside our eligibility criteria we will do our best to refer you to another legal service provider.
Confidentiality
Any and all information contained in documents and discussions you have with the SRLC and SRLC lawyers is and remains confidential.
Information about your legal problem may be passed between the SRLC lawyers assisting you. Further, the SRLC may discuss your matter generally in newsletters or other publications. However, this will always be done in such a way as to preserve your confidentiality.
If you have any objections or concerns please mention it to SRLC staff and lawyers.
Complaints
If you have a complaint about the service provided by the SRLC, please contact the PILCH Executive Director and make sure he or she is aware of your complaint.
If you are unsatisfied with his or her response, you should put your complaint in writing to the President, Public Interest Law Clearing House (Vic) Inc.
You can also make complaints about the quality of service provided by any lawyer to the Legal Services Commission.
Are there any charges for SRLC services?
The SRLC provides services on a pro bono basis. This means we will not charge you for our legal services, unless you become entitled to your costs from the other side of a legal proceeding. If this happens, we may seek our costs from you, however, we will not seek to recover any more than the amount to be paid to you by another party for your costs.
If your matter involves legal proceedings and you are unsuccessful in the proceeding, the Court may award legal costs against you. You are liable for these costs.
Please discuss this with your lawyer so that you are clear about any liability for costs.
Disbursements
You may be asked to contribute to disbursements.
Disbursements are out of pocket expenses such as court and tribunal fees or interpreters’ fees. However, we will consult you before incurring any disbursements for which you are liable.
In some cases it is possible to obtain waivers of these fees from the court. This is something you should discuss with your lawyer.
SRLC Times and Locations
SRLC Times and Locations
Internal link to a list of the Seniors Rights Legal Clinic specific Clinic times and locations.