|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Media Release: Monday 8 April 2002 Lawyers take to the streets in regional areas Each year, Legal Aid assists over 50,000 people with a wide range of family law problems, including child support, divorce and child custody. Family law disputes are a highly sensitive area of law and usually involve major emotional issues like who the children live with and how often the other parent will have contact with the children. Such a process can be very distressing and confusing to all parties, especially if they have to experience the additional stress of going to court. To help family law clients resolve their disputes quickly and without the worry of going to court, Legal Aid has introduced an innovative conferencing program that brings people in dispute to the mediation table. Parties to a family law dispute and their lawyers meet with independent mediators and work out solutions that everybody can agree on. The program is currently achieving a 68% settlement rate and according to program manager, David Cox, is fast becoming accepted as a viable alternative to court. Recognising that people who live in regional areas may still not be aware of alternatives to court in family law matters, Legal Aid is conducting a regional circuit to raise awareness about this innovative program. The visits to regional centres will mainly target community workers who are likely to be helping and advising potential Legal Aid clients and members of the public are also welcome to attend. Seminars will also provide information about Legal Aid's Web site (www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au), recently revamped to include useful information for people who cannot physically access a Legal Aid office or legal centre. The new website content will go up during Law Week. The regional circuit will take place during Law Week 13-19 May 2002 under the banner of this year's theme, “Taking to the Streets”. To ensure that community workers in the country are fully informed about the benefits of conferencing for their clients, Legal Aid will take to the streets in Taree, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Tamworth and Dubbo (See program below). Since child support issues form a large part of family law disputes, individual and confidential legal advice will also be provided on child support issues to members of the public. In Coffs Harbour, free divorce classes will also be offered (See program below). For more information: David Cox (Family Law conferences) Tel: 9219 5865 Shirl Acland (Child Support issues) Tel: 9744 3833 Yvette Klintfalt (Legal Aid online resources) Tel: 9219 5044 Penny Adams (General information about the circuit) Tel: 9219 5028 Or email: publications@legalaid.nsw.gov.au Legal Aid takes to the streets Regional Program Taree - Monday, 13 May 2002 9.30am - 11.30am Seminar: ‘Improving Legal Services for Families’ Where? Business Development Centre, 140A Victoria Street, Taree Contact: Penny Adams Tel: 9219 5028 (Legal Aid) 9.30am - 12.00pm Free legal advice on child support issues Where? Business Development Centre, 140A Victoria Street, Taree Bookings: 1800 451 784 Port Macquarie - 13 May 2002 2.30pm - 5.30pm Seminar: ‘Improving Legal Services for Families’ Where? Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre, cnr Musdan and Dodds Sts, Port Macquarie Contact: Penny Adams Tel: 9219 5035 (Legal Aid) 2.30pm - 5.30pm Free legal advice on child support issues Where? Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre, cnr Musdan and Dodds Sts, Port Macquarie. Bookings: 1800 451 784 Coffs Harbour - Tuesday 14 May 2002 1.00pm - 4.30pm Free legal advice on child support issues Where? Coffs Harbour Neighbourhood Centre, Earl Street, Coffs Harbour. Bookings: 1800 451 784 3.00pm - 5.30pm Seminar: ‘Improving Legal Services for Families’ Where? Room 3, Coffs Harbour Neighbourhood Centre, Earl Street, Coffs Harbour (part of Community Village) Contact: Penny Adams Tel: 9219 5028 (Legal Aid) 6.00pm - 7.30pm Divorce Class Where? Coffs Harbour Legal Aid Office, 4 Park Avenue, Coffs Harbour Contact: Coffs Harbour Legal Aid Tel: 6651 7899 Armidale - Wednesday 15 May 2002 10.00am - 12.45pm Legal Information Access Centre Launch (includes Legal Aid Seminar: ‘Improving Legal Services for Families’) Where? Armidale Dumaresq War Memorial Library, Faulkner Street, Armidale Contact: Penny Adams Tel: 9219 5035 (Legal Aid) Ian Greenhalgh Tel: 6770 3530 (LIAC, Library, Armidale) Tamworth - Thursday 16 May 2002 10.00am - 11.30am Seminar: ‘Improving Legal Services for Families’ (followed by presentations by local legal services) Where? Central Northern Libraries, V. Guy Kable Memorial Arts Building, 203 Marius St, Tamworth Contact: Penny Adams Tel: 9219 5035 (Legal Aid) Kay Delahunt Tel: 6766 2077 (LIAC, Library, Tamworth) Dubbo - Friday 17 May 2002 10.00am - 1.00pm Seminar: ‘Improving Legal Services for Families’ (followed by presentations by local legal services) Where? Macquarie Regional Library, cnr. Macquarie and Talbrager Sts, Dubbo Contact: Penny Adams Tel: 9219 5035 (Legal Aid) Lindy Allan (LIAC, Library, Dubbo) |
|
|
|