Our Services
All services delivered by Northern Community Legal Services are free. Some services subject to an eligibility assessment.
On this page:
Legal Services
Most people living or working within our catchment area are eligible for a first free interview with one of our solicitors. Our interviews tend to last around 45 minutes, but will depend upon the kind of legal matter(s) involved.
Ongoing assistance, including representation, is assessed on a case-by-case basis against our client eligibility criteria. These criteria include the legal merit in the matter, as well as the financial means of the client.
We can usually accommodate our clients needs when it comes to booking appointments, including phone interviews or arranging interpreters, free of charge to the client.
If there are any other costs associated with your matter (eg. court costs, application fees, etc.), you will be advised during your appointment. Northern Community Legal Service does not accept liability for your costs.
Areas of Practice
We offer advice and/or assistance in the following areas of law. We may be able to provide limited services outside these matters.
Civil Law
Relating to disputes between individuals or entities, or more generally concerning someone’s rights or obligations.
Contracts
Debt issues
Tenancy
Employment
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Neighbour Disputes
Power of Attorneys & Advanced Care Directives
Migration Law (see below)
Criminal Law
Relating to offences against State or Federal Law attracting penalties such as fines, imprisonment or other punishments.
Traffic Matters
Theft
Assault
Minor Drug Offences
Property Damage
Power of Attorneys & Advanced Care Directives
Family Law
Relating to disputes between spouses or de facto partners, or about children of the relationship.
Property Settlement
Children and Parenting
Separation
Divorce
Child Support
Domestic Violence matters
IVO
Power of Attorneys & Advanced Care Directives
The key services that NCLS provides in relation to migration law advice and assistance is:
- Resolution of Status Visa Subclass 851 Assistance: If you are on a Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) or Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) visa we can help you apply for the permanent Resolution of Status visa (subclass 851).
- Permanent visa under the Family Violence provisions: We provide legal assistance to people who are no longer in a relationship with their sponsor for a partner visa and have experienced family violence or have a child of the relationship.
- Preliminary Advice on Citizenship.
Community Legal Education
Upon request, we can provide legal education for a community group, or community workers who may in turn pass on the knowledge to their service users.
Community legal education are effective in helping individuals and organisations in our community to understand their legal rights and responsibilities, improving their ability to prevent or resolve legal issues early.
If you would like to request an education or training session for your organisation, please contact our office.
Legal Topics
- Australian legal system
- Police
- Marriage
- Australian Family Law
- Domestic Violence
- Child Protection
- Driving in South Australia
- Buying a car
- Motor vehicle accident
- Tenancy (Renting)
- Fines
Access to Justice through knowledge
Northern Community Legal Service provides education on various topics, including to the CALD communities.
Designed by lawyers
Clerq. Self-Help Tool
Clerq has been coded and designed by lawyers who work on the front line at a community legal centre. We see and hear first hand what legal issues are trending and cater an appropriate response to the legal demand with updates regularly provided on the Clerq system.
We’re not out to replace the legal profession with automated legal advice, but rather introduce a tool to supplement the provision of legal advice.
Each legal area has it’s own interview style questionnaire that takes the guesswork out of your legal issue, so you can focus on your problem and not get caught up in the complexities of the legal world.
“Quite easy if you are not computer savvy”
We believe that a large number of legal issues can be resolved through clear and informal discussion without the necessity of often burdensome and complex court processes. When used appropriately, Alternative Dispute Resolution can save a lot of time by allowing resolution to occur in weeks or months, compared to court, which can take much longer (and is more complex and stressful).
Clerq has been designed to include alternative dispute resolution options (where possible) to ensure that the legal process can be kept as amicable as possible.
“I wish I had found this months ago!”
Clerq currently has forms for contract (debt), motor vehicle accidents (property damage only), consumer law, fences, set aside judgment, and family law (PPP Financial Summary and Divorce service).