Community Legal Centres
Community legal centres (CLCs) are independent, community organisations providing equitable and accessible legal services. CLCs tend to service specific demographics or a particular area of law, such as family law, employment law, criminal law and environmental law. Services provided generally include free legal advice, referrals, representation, community legal education, and advocating for law reform.
A range of different volunteering opportunities are available in CLCs across Brisbane and the wider Queensland area. The UQ Pro Bono Centre is an excellent starting point to engage with CLCs and offers a wide range of opportunities for students to participate in the delivery of pro bono legal services in Queensland. The Centre oversees the Law School's Clinical Legal Education Program, research support for pro bono activities, the Pro Bono roster and the Barrister's Assistance Team.
Reference links:
Brisbane-Based
- A-
ATSILS - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service
Not-for-profit community organisation contracted by the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department to provide criminal, civil and family law services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and their families in Queensland.
- AA
Aged and Disability Advocacy Law (ADA)
- BR
Basic Rights Queensland
State-wide specialist community legal centre providing advice, advocacy and free legal services to people having problems with social security or disability discrimination.
- BC
Bayside Community Legal Service
- CL
Caxton Legal Centre
Represents the interests of people who are disadvantaged or on a low income when they come into contact with the law.
- ED
Environmental Defenders Office (EDO)
The largest environmental legal centre in the Australia-Pacific, dedicated to protecting climate, communities and shared environment.
- HC
HUB Community Legal
Free legal advice to communities within Brisbane's Southwest suburbs.
- K
Knowmore
- L
LawRight
Independent not-for-profit legal organisation that coordinates the provision of pro bono legal service for individuals and community groups in Queensland.
- LL
LGBTI Legal Service
Non-profit community legal service launched in 2010 by the Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, providing confidential free legal advice and information to the LGBTIQA+ community throughout Queensland.
- NC
Northside Connect
- PL
Prisoners' Legal Service (PLS)
Promotes justice, human rights, equity and the rule of law in society and in the administration of prisons and punishment.
- QA
Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion (QAI)
Legal advocacy organisation for people with disability in Queensland.
- RA
Refugee and Immigration Legal Service (RAILS)
Free advice on Australian migration law including sponsorship, reviews, permanent residence, citizenship, visa cancellation, refugee status, protection visas and detention.
- SI
Sisters Inside Inc.
Independent community organisation advocating for the human rights of women in the criminal justice system and addressing gaps in services available to them.
- TQ
Tenants Queensland
Community Legal Centre, formerly known as the Tenants' Union of Queensland, representing the legal concerns of tenants.
- WL
Women's Legal Service (WLSQ)
Specialist community legal centre providing free legal and social work services to women in Queensland.
- YL
YFS Legal
General legal advice for the Logan community, plus support and representation for young people under 25 with criminal law matters.
- YA
Youth Advocacy Centre
Free legal services, youth support and family support assistance and services to young people (generally aged 10-18).
Other Queensland
- A&
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Women's Legal Services North Queensland
- AF
Aboriginal Family Legal Services Queensland (Maruma-li-mari)
- CC
Cairns Community Legal Centre
- CQ
Central Queensland Community Legal Centre (Rockhampton)
- GC
Gold Coast Community Legal Centre & Advice Bureau
- IF
Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (Legal Service)
- JL
Junkuri Laka Community Legal Centre Aboriginal Corporation (Mornington Island)
- PR
Pine Rivers Community Legal Service
- MR
Mackay Regional Community Legal Centre
- MC
My Community Legal Gold Coast
- QI
Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service
- SC
Suncoast Community Legal Service
- TC
TASC Community Legal Centre (Toowoomba)
- TC
Townsville Community Legal Service
- WB
Wide Bay Burnett Community Legal Service