Legal Advice
Our solicitors provide FREE legal advice and/or referrals in all areas of law especially:
- Victim's compensation
- Discrimination
- Unfair dismissal
- Credit and debt matters
- Domestic violence (AVO) – complainants only
- Child support - for carer parents only
PLEASE NOTE: we are unable to advise the following groups and/or areas of law and will refer to an appropriate alternative:
- Non-carer parents in child support/family law matters (see under "Child Support" heading for more information)
- Family law
- Landlords
- Defendants in apprehended domestic violence matters (unless the defence is to a cross-application) and defendants in victim’s compensation matters
- Creditors
- Respondents in discrimination and employment matters
Legal advice is given during telephone advice sessions. See PHONE ADVICE TIMES below.
Face to face appointments with a volunteer solicitor are also offered to clients in the following circumstances:
- Where an interpreter is required - we will endeavour to arrange for an interpreter on your behalf.
- Where a client has a disability and is unable to use the phone.
- If the matter is too complex to address over the telephone.
- If documents need to be read and interpreted in order to provide advice.
Appointments are conducted by volunteer solicitors from the private profession. Appointments are available on Thursday evenings from 6pm or on alternate Friday afternoons from 2pm. These appointments must be made through our centre and are conducted at the centre in Greene Street Warrawong.
Please note that, EXCEPT for the areas in which we provide LEGAL REPRESENTATION (see below) we may refer clients to a private solicitor if the issue requires longer, detailed consideration.
Outreach Service for Women:
We run an advice service at the Illawarra Women's Health Centre in Warilla on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month between 10 - 12 noon.
The Illawarra Women's Health Centre is a women-only space at 4 Belfast Avenue, Warilla.
Appointments are necessary and can be made by contacting the Women's Health Centre on 4296 7077.
Migration Advice:
A volunteer Registered Migration Agent provides free advice at the centre on the second Tuesday of each month. Phone 4276 1939 to make an appointment.
Advice is given regarding any type of visa, with a focus on family visas, as well as general immigration and citizenship. Advice is given on a "one-off" basis. Unfortunately we cannot take any migration matters as casework.
Legal Representation
We provide representation in the following:
- Victim's compensation
- Discrimination
- Unfair dismissal
- Credit and debt matters
- Domestic violence (AVO) - complainants only
- Child support (for carer parents only)
Child Support
The Illawarra Legal Centre has a solicitor who specialises in child support matters. We act only for the carer parent; that is, the parent who the child lives with for the majority of the time. Children benefit from receiving child support. This is a separate issue to parenting orders (who the child lives with and spends time with).
We provide advice and representation in the following areas:
- Child Support Assessments
- Change of Assessment
- Private Child Support Agreements
- Collecting child support
- Child Bearing Expenses
- Over-18's maintenance
- Liaising with the Child Support Agency
Please note that advice and representation for non-carer parents is available at the Legal Aid Commission, through Law Access or through a private solicitor.
Useful Links
LawAccess
www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 1300 888 529
Legal Aid Commission
www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 02 4228 8299
