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Free Legal Clinic
Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Over 50 guests joined The Hon Jay Weatherill MP Minister for Families for the opening of the Free Legal Clinic on Friday June 27th.  The clinic will be located at the Port Family and Support Services 58 Dale Street Port Adelaide. Mr Weatherill stated the new clinic “ is giving power to the powerless”.

 
The Housing Legal Clinic provides pro bono legal advice to people who are homeless or at the risk of becoming homeless.
 
Judy Stacey (Family and Support Services Manager) and Libby Craft (UCWPA CEO) welcomed all guests and outlined many of the housing services UCWPA provides to the community.
 
Bill Manallack from the Welfare Rights Centre (SA) is the Clinic Co-ordinator and has played an integral role in the set up of the Port Adelaide Clinic, as well as the other four legal clinics at The Magdalene Centre, Byron Place Community Centre, The Hutt Street Centre and Catherine House. Bill spoke of the success of the clinics since its establishment in July 2006.
 
In the clinic’s first year approximately $580,000 worth of pro bono service was created by four law firms.  253 clients made use of the service.  In the second year, with five law firms at five legal clinics, it is estimated the project will generate a minimum of $770,000 worth of pro bono legal services for more than 600 clients.[1]
 
The Law firms involved in the Legal Clinic are Minter Ellison, Thompson Playford, Kain C+C, Fisher Jeffries and Andersons. Simon Flower from Anderson solicitors spoke of his enthusiasm of being involved in the clinic and his confidence in ensuring many people with benefit from the advice provided.
 
The Clinic is open every Thursday night from 5-7pm.
 
 
 
[1] http://www.wrcsa.org.au/page2.html#