The prohibitive cost of legal fees can leave some people struggling to access justice.
Students from Griffith University’s Law School joined qualified professionals at My Community Legal Gold Coast to offer free advice to those who need, but cannot afford, a lawyer.
From tenancy and employment disputes to family law and domestic violence cases, students helped to alleviate some of the stress these situations could cause for community members and gained meaningful experience of legal processes in the real world.
Kirsty Paynter, a lecturer at Griffith University who served on the board of My Community Legal, said the opportunity to work alongside experienced lawyers to assist the public was invaluable for her students.
“Sitting opposite a human being who is facing eviction or trying to navigate custody of their kids, and watching and listening to the volunteer lawyer provide legal advice, is a big step towards developing the soft skills legal professionals need for a successful and rewarding legal career,” she said.
“My time at My Community Legal showed me how important access to justice can be for people experiencing difficult circumstances,” said Jennifer Gillan, a third year student studying Law and Political Science and International Relations at Griffith.
“It reinforced my desire to use my legal career to positively support the community,” she said.
Flávia São Thiago Carvalho moved to Australia from Brazil ten years ago and had been navigating the complex journey to obtain professional registration in her field.
Having spent many years and thousands of dollars on this process, she was compelled to seek help from My Community Legal late last year when she lost her job.
“I had less than a week to make a decision that could change the course of my life forever,” Mrs São Thiago Carvalho said.
“The legal advice I received helped me better understand my situation and gave me the confidence to move forward with greater clarity.”
Ross Lee OAM, founding director of My Community Legal Gold Coast, said the decision to set up the charity law practice came from a desire to give back to the community, but the rewards for volunteers, both students and established lawyers, were significant.
“The great thing about My Community Legal Gold Coast is that it’s a liberator of clients, educator of the future profession and pro bono delivery system for the current profession,” Mr Lee said.
“Students learn much from immersion among our clients and lawyers and in turn, practitioners often gain a refresh on the purpose of their legal careers.”
My Community Legal offers free legal advice every Thursday from 5pm at the GCCC Robina Community Centre.
