Generalist Report
BGCLS’ Generalist team is now comprised of 4 lawyers. Together, they provide services to clients in the Ballarat region as well as outreach services to the Magistrates Courts in Ararat, Stawell and Horsham as duty lawyers for the Family Violence Lists. They also provide a monthly legal advice service at Langi Kal Kal Prison and Hopkins Correctional Centre. These outreach services were conducted in addition to the multiple appointments offered weekly to our clients.
We continue to offer legal advice and representation services in a variety of legal areas, such as debt, employment, crime, fines and tenancy. Obviously, the restrictions and lockdowns due to the Coronavirus have impacted greatly how we were able to offer our services. Being flexible and creative, but also attentive to our clients’ needs, we were able to remotely maintain our presence in the different courts and in the prisons. We were also able to maintain the number of appointments available to our clients while we were working from home. It has been a challenging year, but it showed us how strong and resilient we are as a team.
We continue to offer legal advice and representation services in a variety of legal areas, such as debt, employment, crime, fines and tenancy. Obviously, the restrictions and lockdowns due to the Coronavirus have impacted greatly how we were able to offer our services. Being flexible and creative, but also attentive to our clients’ needs, we were able to remotely maintain our presence in the different courts and in the prisons. We were also able to maintain the number of appointments available to our clients while we were working from home. It has been a challenging year, but it showed us how strong and resilient we are as a team.
Covid-19 Report
Fortunately Regional Victoria was not as greatly impacted by the pandemic as Metropolitan Victoria during this period. That is not to say that we here in Grampians did not see some setbacks ourselves, restrictions and lockdowns effected the community as a whole and impacted many people’s livelihoods. However, the number of people who were affected by legal issues as a direct result of the pandemic was far fewer in regional Victoria than Metropolitan Victoria.
BGCLS engaged with 31 community organisation, created 7 resources and ran 7 community education sessions. Furthermore, we adapted our service by providing our clients with the opportunity to seek legal advice appointments via telephone or video link.
BGCLS adapted to the challenges and changes that the pandemic has had on the Court process and have increased our pre-court advice appointments, which are available for clients to obtain legal advice prior to their Family Violence and Family Law Court hearing date, including during Circuit week.
During the course of the pandemic, we saw many changes to the law and many changes to the enforcement of the justice system as a whole. BGCLS provided 14 services to clients who were directly impacted by COVID-19, including providing legal advices, ongoing assistance and legal representation.
As the new year looms, we hope that BGCLS can return to our in-person services, while further adapting and evolving from the changes seen this past year, to make our service more conveniently and easily accessible to our community and our clients.
BGCLS engaged with 31 community organisation, created 7 resources and ran 7 community education sessions. Furthermore, we adapted our service by providing our clients with the opportunity to seek legal advice appointments via telephone or video link.
BGCLS adapted to the challenges and changes that the pandemic has had on the Court process and have increased our pre-court advice appointments, which are available for clients to obtain legal advice prior to their Family Violence and Family Law Court hearing date, including during Circuit week.
During the course of the pandemic, we saw many changes to the law and many changes to the enforcement of the justice system as a whole. BGCLS provided 14 services to clients who were directly impacted by COVID-19, including providing legal advices, ongoing assistance and legal representation.
As the new year looms, we hope that BGCLS can return to our in-person services, while further adapting and evolving from the changes seen this past year, to make our service more conveniently and easily accessible to our community and our clients.
Tyson's Story |
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To find out more about the service please follow this link: About Us
BGCLS Acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the region we service, their diversity, histories and knowledge and their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their Elders past present and emerging.
To find out more about the service please follow this link: About Us
BGCLS Acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the region we service, their diversity, histories and knowledge and their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their Elders past present and emerging.
Many images of Ballarat and surrounds by photographer, Andrew Thomas. Visit Andrew's website to see more of his beautiful images - http://www.andrewthomasphotographer.com/