Submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Access to Justice Arrangements JusticeNet SA is an independent not-for-profit organisation that provides pro bono legal services for low-income and disadvantaged South Australians. JusticeNet coordinates two pro bono legal services that use the pro bono capacity of the public and private legal profession to address distinct areas of unmet legal need: Pro Bono Referral Service (inc the Refugee and Asylum Seeker Service); and, Self-Representation Service (currently Supreme Court, Federal Courts starts May 2014. JusticeNet is a member of the South Australian Council of Community Legal Services and Pro Bono Access Australia, a network of pro bono legal services. For more information about JusticeNet visit JusticeNet welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Draft Report produced by the Commission. The focus of this submission is to respond to information requests in Chapter 14 (Self Represented Litigants) and Chapter 23 (Pro Bono services). Chapter 14 – Self-Represented litigants Information request 14.1 What is the most effective and efficient way of assisting selfrepresented litigants to understand their rights and obligations at law? How can the growing complexity in the law best be addressed? It is the experience of JusticeNet that a Self-Representation Service is both an effective and way of assisting Self-Represented Litigants (SRLs). JusticeNet has operated a Self-Representation Service (SRS) in the Supreme Court of South Australia since September 2013. The service was a joint initiative of JusticeNet SA and Flinders University. The SRS provides legal advice and legal task assistance to low-income and disadvantaged clients representing themselves in the civil jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under a limited retainer. The service does not represent clients or take responsibility for the conduct of their matter. The SRS e is closely modelled on the Self-Representation Services operated by the Queensland Public Interest Law Clearinghouse (QPILCH) since 2007.
Submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Access to Justice Arrangements JusticeNet SA is an independent not-for-profit organisation that provides pro bono legal services for low-income and disadvantaged South Australians. JusticeNet coordinates two pro bono legal services that use the pro bono capacity of the public and private legal profession to address distinct areas of unmet legal need: Pro Bono Referral Service (inc the Refugee and Asylum Seeker Service); and, Self-Representation Service (currently Supreme Court, Federal Courts starts May 2014. JusticeNet is a member of the South Australian Council of Community Legal Services and Pro Bono Access Australia, a network of pro bono legal services. For more information about JusticeNet visit JusticeNet welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Draft Report produced by the Commission. The focus of this submission is to respond to information requests in Chapter 14 (Self Represented Litigants) and Chapter 23 (Pro Bono services). Chapter 14 – Self-Represented litigants Information request 14.1 What is the most effective and efficient way of assisting selfrepresented litigants to understand their rights and obligations at law? How can the growing complexity in the law best be addressed? It is the experience of JusticeNet that a Self-Representation Service is both an effective and way of assisting Self-Represented Litigants (SRLs). JusticeNet has operated a Self-Representation Service (SRS) in the Supreme Court of South Australia since September 2013. The service was a joint initiative of JusticeNet SA and Flinders University. The SRS provides legal advice and legal task assistance to low-income and disadvantaged clients representing themselves in the civil jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under a limited retainer. The service does not represent clients or take responsibility for the conduct of their matter. The SRS e is closely modelled on the Self-Representation Services operated by the Queensland Public Interest Law Clearinghouse (QPILCH) since 2007.