Shoalcost Legal

Free Legal Advice & Information

Shoalcoast provides free legal advice and casework services to disadvantaged individuals and groups who are unable to afford a private solicitor. We give priority to matters which involve particular disadvantage; for example, those which involve women and children exposed to family violence and those which affect indigenous clients. We do not advise in some other areas of law such as taxation, commercial and property matters. See our guidelines www.shoalcoast.org.au/shoalcoast-guidelines.html for more details.

Telephone Advice

Tuesday and Thursday 10am – 12 noon

4422 9529 or 1800 229 529 (Ulladulla to Eden)

Face to Face Advice

Face to face appointments can be made if you are unable to speak to a solicitor by phone. Our office hours for clients are Mon, Tues, Thurs & Friday 9am-12.30 & 1.30-5pm

Far South Coast Outreach

We visit towns between Ulladulla and Eden at least once a month. Please contact us for details of our next trip and make an appointment.

Casework Services:

Due to the Centre’s limited resources and the high demand for its services, we provide legal representation only in certain circumstances. These tend to be matters which involve family violence, promote systemic reform and/or have important legal issues involved.

The following case studies show the types of advice and assistance we provide:

Casework Examples - Minor Assistance

Jane approached Shoalcoast in distress after having received a Statement of Liquidated Claim from a Financial Institution for a fairly hefty sum of money. Jane had been mentally ill and did not know what to do about the claim. After further investigation and a bit of research, it was discovered that the Institution had served Jane with an invalid Statement of Liquidated Claim and the action had already been struck out of Court prior to Jane being served with the claim. Jane was advised that fresh proceedings would have to be issued against her for the Institution to continue with the claim.

Casework—Employment

John, a 17 year old, was subjected to ongoing bullying from his boss and dismissed from his job one day after telling the boss he’d had enough. John was also having to put up with illegal pay deductions and underpaid wages. Shoalcoast represented John in his application for Unfair Dismissal and the matter was swiftly settled prior to conciliation.

Casework—Family Law

Amanda approached Shoalcoast in a situation which could only be described as the legal equivalent of a medical emergency. After fleeing her extremely violent husband only a few days earlier, Amanda’s young child was subject to a recovery order obtained by the husband. Amanda was in an extremely difficult position, she had signed consent orders under pressure from her violent husband giving him residence of the child, despite the fact that they were still living together and Amanda was actually the primary carer of the child. If Amanda was to keep her child and not go back into a situation which risked hers and the child’s life, something would need to be done as a matter of urgency, especially because the Federal Police were already acting on the recovery order and making efforts to find Amanda and take the child.

The family had a long history of involvement with the Department of Community Services due to the ongoing and severe domestic violence occurring in the home. After making contact with Departmental Caseworkers, the Department became interveners in the Federal Magistrates proceedings and their solicitors successfully sought a discharge of the recovery order and a suspension of the consent orders. The matter was then transferred to the Family Court and Shoalcoast represented Amanda in an interim hearing before a Judge of the Court. With the support of the Department, Amanda was granted an interim residence order for the child.

Casework—Apprehended Violence Orders

With the Police in our area taking on most of the applications for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders, our Centre is able to effectively utilise its time in defending women who are subjected to vexatious cross claim AVOs. Kathy was referred to us through the local domestic violence court assistance scheme and had been served with a private application for an AVO by her ex partner, against whom the police had obtained an AVO after a defended hearing. Our client was determined to fight the frivolous application and felt that her ex partner was harassing her further by using the Court as his weapon. Shoalcoast was prepared to undertake the hearing on behalf of Kathy, and offer of undertakings was refused the ex partner withdrew his application approximately two days prior to the hearing.

Casework—Racial Discrimination

An Aboriginal Elder was accused of shoplifting and subjected to a humiliating search of her belongings, which yielded no stolen items. Our client was also subjected to racist remarks during the search. The Centre represented the client in Anti-Discrimination Board proceedings against the Shop involved, the Shopping Centre and the Security Company. The matter was settled against all three respondents after extensive negotiations.