Highlights of NLAF Meeting held on 27 February 2008

Meeting Community Need

Culturally and linguistically diverse

NLAF representatives met with Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian (Chair, NSW Community Relations Commission (CRC)) regarding improving access to fee- exempt interpreters for community legal centre clients. Agreement was reached regarding the provision of an initial interview for matters in the NSW jurisdiction. However, further liaison is required with a range of government departments to establish responsibility for the cost of interpreters. NLAF will remain involved in ongoing negotiations.

NLAF members provided their agency responses to the recommendations contained in A Long Way to Equal (Women's Legal Services NSW). Forum members agreed to establish a small interim CALD Working Group (to report to NLAF in August 2008). The group will consider the responses to A Long Way to Equal, and will provide recommendations about NLAF's role in implementing the recommendations, and whether a full NLAF CALD Working Group should be established.

Courts 2010

A change to the information provided to defendants about fines and the process for applying for further time to pay was introduced to all Local Courts from 4 February 2008. The changes are designed to make the process of applying for time to pay simpler, fairer and more transparent. More information may be found at: www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/local_courts/ll_localcourts.nsf/pages/lc_money_issues#Paying%20fines.

Rural Regional and Remote (RRR)

An evaluation of the Legal Aid Regional Solicitor Program will commence soon.

NLAF will seek a dialogue with NSW Law Deans regarding promoting careers in the public legal assistance sector, and in RRR areas to law students and young lawyers.

Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre has commenced research into recruitment and retention of lawyers in RRR areas. The first stage is a literature review.

Civil Law Services to Aboriginal People

The Northern Rivers Civil Law Project will commence in April with a scoping visit to Lismore. NLAF agencies are currently finalizing funding arrangements for the project.

The evaluation of the Guide to Legal Services for Aboriginal People in NSW/ ACT is underway. The Aboriginal Justice Advisory Council has provided the Project Officer to conduct the survey, and the Law and Justice Foundation has provided a small grant to analyse the data and collate the report.

Family Law

NLAF is developing a Gap Analysis tool to potentially use for a range of areas of interest. A draft Family Law Gap Analysis was tabled, and a full discussion will take place at the May NLAF meeting. The Director, Family Law, Legal Aid NSW will be invited to address the May meeting.

NLAF will be collating information from members (and relevant others) regarding care and protection legal services. This is in response to the identification of possible unclear referral pathways.

Older People

A briefing paper was presented to forum members on the enhancement of legal services to older persons in NSW. The paper highlighted some of the initiatives that have occurred over the past few years to identify the legal needs of older people, and to respond to those needs. Details of the recent establishment of the Older Persons Legal and Education Program by Legal Aid NSW were provided.

NLAF members agreed to establish a Working Group on the legal needs of older people. The Working Group will develop a response to the recommendations made in the report of the Federal Inquiry into Older People and the Law, and will share information on and provide support to new and existing services.

Coordination

Legal Services Training Reference Group (TRG)

There has been good representation from government departments on the TRG.

New Items

Justice Access Programs Alert (JAPA)

The Law and Justice Foundation of NSW has launched JAPA — a free bi-monthly electronic alert covering innovative programs improving access to justice for economically and socially disadvantaged people. The first issue and an online subscription form is available at www.lawfoundation.net.au/publications/newsletters/japa.

The next meeting of NLAF will be on Wednesday 28th May 2008.