MID North Coast Community Legal Centre (MNCCLC) has been one of the first in New South Wales to be accredited under the new National Accreditation Scheme.
The industry-based certification process for CLCs supports and gives recognition to good practice in the delivery of community legal services.
Opening in June 2011, MNCCLC has already assisted over 1600 people, many of whom are vulnerable and experience social and economic disadvantage, in the areas of debt, bankruptcy, fines, traffic law, discrimination, employment and domestic violence.
MNCCLC also provides community legal education.
A highlight of the last year was hosting the Hastings Elder Abuse Legal Rights Symposium in November at the Glasshouse, where the centre brought together over 60 lawyers, doctors, nurses and other health professionals to discuss the best ways to empower older people to protect themselves from economic, physical, emotional and mental abuse.
“It’s a challenge and a joy to be able to make justice accessible for everyone in the community,” said MNCCLC principal solicitor Nassim Arrage.
“Many people find it difficult to access the justice system because they have low income or they just don’t know what to do when they have a legal problem. Our job is to ensure that people who cannot afford a lawyer are getting quality, free legal help at their time of need.”
MNCCLC solicitor Kyrie Couch said it felt great to help clients in a practical way and really make a difference.
“Many people come to us because they are in debt – from less than $1000 to more than $10 000 – and cannot afford to make any repayments. Quite often I am able to get the debt completely waived or reduced to an amount that a client can manage. A client’s relief when a debt is waived is second to none.”
MNCCLC provides free community legal services to anyone living or working in the in local government areas of Kempsey, Port Macquarie and Taree.
