Past Working Groups
- Working Group on the Legal Needs of Prisoners
- Working Group on the Legal Needs of Older People
- Working Group on Mental Illness and Access to Legal Services
- Working Group on Interpreter Services
- Working Group on Care and Protection
- Working Group on Access to Justice for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities
- Working Group on Access to Civil Law for Aboriginal People
- Working Group on Conflict of Interest
Working Group on the Legal Needs of Prisoners
Convenor: Richard Funston (Legal Aid NSW)
Working Group established February 2009 and concluded September 2010. The working group will continue to operate under the new format of the NLAF Prisoners Forum
Terms of Reference
To prioritise and, as appropriate, progress the strategies proposed by the NLAF Forum on the Legal Needs of Prisoners and to address other prison related issues referred by NLAF. In doing so, the Group is to consider special need prisoners.
Reports and Further Information
Good practice in women's prisons: A literature review
The Australian Institute of Criminology has undertaken a literature review of examples of good practice in women's prisons. Key international developments are also considered.
- Final Report to NLAF
- Report to NLAF – May 2010
- Report to NLAF – March 2010
- Report to NLAF – August 2009
- Report to NLAF – May 2009
- Report to NLAF – February 2009
- Taking justice into custody: the legal needs of prisoners – summary report
- Report on the Legal Needs of Prisoners Forum – October 2008
Working Group on the Legal Needs of Older People
Convenor: Monique Hitter (Legal Aid NSW)
The Working Group met from April 2008 to November 2008
Terms of Reference
- To develop a response to the recommendations made in the report of the Inquiry into Older People and the Law (September 2007)
- To share information on new and existing services
- To support the Older Persons Legal and Education Program in appropriate ways
Working Group on Mental Illness and Access to Legal Services
Convenor: Robin Banks (PILCH)
The Working Group met between November 2006 and November 2007
Terms of Reference
- To collect and collate information about current strategies being implemented and best practice models to improve access to legal services for people with mental illness.
- To disseminate to public legal assistance services through NLAF information about best practice in the provision of legal services to people with mental illness.
- To develop proposals to implement best practice across public legal assistance services in the delivery of legal and related services to people with mental illness.
- To identify particular aspects of civil and criminal law that may impact on legal rights for people with mental illness.
- To identify and develop links to related mental health initiatives.
Outcomes
- Review of recent research relating to barriers to the legal system and best practice models to improve access to justice for people with a mental illness.
- Investigatation of ways to improve the interface between the legal and health systems.
- Development of a proposal for a project that aims to research and pilot new legal service delivery models and capacity and training building models. The Mental Health Legal Services Project received 2 years funding from Legal Aid NSW, is auspiced by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), and commenced in early 2008.
- NLAF is continuing to monitor progress of the Mental Health Legal Services Project
Reports and Further Information
Working Group on Interpreter Services
Convenor: Sue Scott (Law and Justice Foundation of NSW)
The Working Group met between June 2006 and November 2007.
Terms of Reference
The Working Group was established to explore and improve access to interpreter services for clients using public legal services.
Outcomes
The Group has undertaken research and consultation in the following areas:
- Availability of interpreters
– availability of interpreters in new and emerging languages
– availability of Auslan interpreters
– availability of free interpreters for clients of community legal centres - Quality of interpreting services
– training for interpreters working in the legal system - Appropriate use of interpreters
– training and resources for the legal sector in working with interpreters
The Working Group has collated some of its findings into a resource list for legal agencies using interpreters.
Reports and Further Information
Working Group on Care and Protection
Convenor: Jane Pritchard (LawAccess NSW)
Working Group established August 2008
Terms of Reference
To establish strategies to ensure appropriate referrals in children’s care and protection matters. These will include:
- Analysis of service providers
- Co-ordination of training to ensure effective referrals for care and protection issues
- Development of a Communication Strategy to inform legal and nonlegal agencies about care and protection services.
Reports and Further Information
Working Group on Access to Justice for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities
Convenor: Jane Pritchard (LawAccess)
Working Group established July 2008
Terms of Reference
The overall aim of the working group is to improve legal services to culturally and linguistically diverse communities by focusing on engagement between the legal and migrant services sectors.
That this will be achieved through:
- identifying at least one local metropolitan area, and facilitating a process of cross-agency interaction, through information sharing and identification of partnership opportunities
- encouraging best practice in reaching CALD communities
Reports and Further Information
- Final Report [PDF]
- Report to NLAF – August 2009
- Report to NLAF – May 2009
- Checklist: Working with Interpreters in Legal Settings [PDF]
- Quick Guide to Working with Interpreters in Legal Settings [PDF]
- Report to NLAF – February 2009
- Report to NLAF – November 2008
- Resource/Reference Guide for Sudanese People [PDF]
- Checklist for working with CALD communities [PDF]
- Draft Checklist on Working with CALD Communities
- Listen to information about LawAccess NSW services in the following languages: Arabic, Assyrian, Burmese, Cantonese, Croatian, Dari, Dinka, Filipino, Hindi, Indonesian, Khmer, Mandarin, Nepalese, Persian/Farsi, Spanish, Somali, Thai & Vietnamese
Working Group on Access to Civil Law for Aboriginal People
Convenor: Scott Hawkins (Legal Aid NSW)
Working Group established January 2006 and due to conclude its work in May 2009
Terms of Reference
The purpose of the Working Group is to increase the availability of and access to civil law services for Aboriginal people in NSW. To do this, the Working Group will:
- Develop and implement strategies to address the unmet needs of Aboriginal people in NSW in relation to access to civil law services.
- Evaluate the use and effectiveness of the Guide to Legal Services for Aboriginal People in NSW and the ACT.
- Implement strategies to improve access to pro bono services for Aboriginal people in NSW.
Reports and Further Information
- Report to NLAF – May 2009
- Law for Non-Lawyers for Aboriginal communities in the Northern Rivers area [PDF]
- Report to NLAF – February 2009
- Report to NLAF – November 2008
- Guide to Legal Services for Aboriginal People in NSW and the ACT
Working Group on Conflict of Interest
Convenor: Annmarie Lumsden (Legal Aid NSW)
Working Group established January 2006
Terms of Reference
The Working Party was established to enquire into and explore issues in relation to conflict of interest for Public Legal Assistance Services which impact on the delivery of legal services to people across NSW.
The Working Party has adopted a client focused, robust and practical policy approach to managing conflict of interest. The objective is to ensure that legal services are available to the maximum number of clients without compromising services to individual clients.
Reports and Further Information
A submission has been prepared and was considered by the Ethics Committee of The Law Society of NSW.
