Community Legal Centres (CLCs) are non-profit organisations that work in partnership with Legal Aid Queensland (LAQ) to provide a range of general and specialist legal services to the people of Queensland. They are a key component of Australia's legal aid system and provide a distinctive form of service which complements the services provided by LAQ and the private legal profession.
As a general rule assistance provided by CLCs is free, although donations are always welcome.
Specialist services are available in relation to:
- disability discrimination
- child support
- older person's outreach program
- clinical legal education
- environmental matters
- financial counselling
- youth
- women
- prisoners
- immigration
- tenancy
- welfare rights.
Most centres are incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981. Each CLC is managed by a management committee. Many committee members are drawn from the local community and participate on a voluntary basis.
Legal Aid Queensland is responsible for managing the Community Legal Service Program throughout Queensland on behalf of both the federal and state governments.
Currently the funding program budget totals approximately $6M, with funding being provided from the following sources:
- Commonwealth Government (Attorney-General's Department)
- Queensland Government (Department of Justice and Attorney-General)
- Legal Practitioners Interest on Trust Account Fund.
There are currently 31 CLCs in Queensland which receive some funding under the program. View the complete list of funded and unfunded centres in Queensland.