May 2014 Access to Justice Productivity Commission GPO Box 1428 Canberra City ACT 2601 By email: Dear Madam / Sir, Submission on access to justice arrangements inquiry The Kingsford Legal Centre (KLC) appreciates the opportunity to make submissions on your inquiry into access to justice arrangements. Our submission is drawn from the experiences of our clients and staff in dealing with the law and legal system over a period of 30 years. All case studies have been de-identified to protect our clients’ confidentiality. Kingsford Legal Centre KLC is a community legal centre (CLC) and a member organisation of the National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC). We provide free advice and casework on a wide range of legal matters to people living, working or studying in the Botany and Randwick local government areas. We also provide a specialist discrimination law advice and representation service throughout NSW. We actively participate in law reform and policy projects as well as community legal education. Advice and casework In 2013 we provided advice to 1,811 clients. Of these clients: over 11% identified as having no income (170 clients); almost 50% identified as having a of less than $40,000pa (553 clients); ‘low income’ almost 20% identified as having a of between $40,000pa and ‘medium income’ $60,000pa; and 10% identified as having a of more than $60,000pa. ‘high income’ We opened 287 cases for clients in 2013. Of the cases we opened: 11% was for clients who identified as having no income (33 cases); over 65% was for (191 cases); ‘low income’ clients 11% was for (33); ‘medium income’ clients the remaining cases statistics are not well recorded Collaborative and complementary service provision KLC has a long history of working in cooperation with other legal service providers. By working to each of our strengths, we are able to provide a full and thorough service with each service providing essential parts of the service.
May 2014 Access to Justice Productivity Commission GPO Box 1428 Canberra City ACT 2601 By email: Dear Madam / Sir, Submission on access to justice arrangements inquiry The Kingsford Legal Centre (KLC) appreciates the opportunity to make submissions on your inquiry into access to justice arrangements. Our submission is drawn from the experiences of our clients and staff in dealing with the law and legal system over a period of 30 years. All case studies have been de-identified to protect our clients’ confidentiality. Kingsford Legal Centre KLC is a community legal centre (CLC) and a member organisation of the National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC). We provide free advice and casework on a wide range of legal matters to people living, working or studying in the Botany and Randwick local government areas. We also provide a specialist discrimination law advice and representation service throughout NSW. We actively participate in law reform and policy projects as well as community legal education. Advice and casework In 2013 we provided advice to 1,811 clients. Of these clients: over 11% identified as having no income (170 clients); almost 50% identified as having a ‘low income’ of less than $40,000pa (553 clients); almost 20% identified as having a ‘medium income’ of between $40,000pa and $60,000pa; and 10% identified as having a ‘high income’ of more than $60,000pa. We opened 287 cases for clients in 2013. Of the cases we opened: 11% was for clients who identified as having no income (33 cases); over 65% was for ‘low income’ clients (191 cases); 11% was for ‘medium income’ clients (33); the remaining cases statistics are not well recorded Collaborative and complementary service provision KLC has a long history of working in cooperation with other legal service providers. By working to each of our strengths, we are able to provide a full and thorough service with each service providing essential parts of the service.