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Legal Aid News Issue 17 << Back to index Community embraces new Hornsby service One way of improving access to legal aid services is to provide regular outreach visits. This year, our Manly office did just that by initiating a fortnightly family law advice clinic at Hornsby Local Court. "We see people at Manly who have travelled long distances, coming from places where transport services are very limited," Brian says. "We also know that many people on the Central Coast and Hawkesbury area face long waiting periods because Gosford Office is overloaded with family law appointments." The new service has gone like a rocket with Brian seeing up to 17 clients each day. "Contrary to common belief, there are extensive areas of social and economic disadvantage in this region," he says. "This advice clinic is now providing locals, particularly single female parents, with better access to justice." Clients are coming in from the Central Coast, Hawkesbury, Wisemans Ferry, Castle Hill, Hornsby and Chatswood. Problems include issues with residence, contact, child support, spouse maintenance, property applications, divorce and Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders. "All the clients are pleased with the service," says Brian. "One client who lives in Hornsby remembered me from a divorce class he had attended at Manly a year ago, saying he wished the service had been available back at that time." Hornsby's Clerk of the Court, Eileen Prior says the court is right behind this new initiative which will supplement the court's existing Chamber Magistrate advice service. "By working together," she says, "we can make sure that people who are already socially and economically disadvantaged, don't also face the disadvantage of distance and long waiting periods." Brian Samuel gives family law advice to a client at the busy new advice clinic at Hornsby. DNA testing of some young people in custody is likely to take place later this year under Part 7 of the Crimes (Forensic Procedure) Act. A brochure about DNA testing has been produced by Juvenile Justice and the Children’s Legal Service with the help of Legal Aid’s Education and Publications Unit. The flyer is targeted at young people in custody who have been convicted and are serving a sentence of imprisonment. More general information for young people about DNA testing and forensic procedures will be included in the next edition of Get Street Smart, Legal Aid's pocket book for young people about their rights. |
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