Redfern Legal Centre

Areas of advice

The RLC is a general community legal centre providing free legal advice to the community in a number of key areas. The centre has been involved in key cases and areas of law reform with an increased focus on police accountability. In 2020, RLC launched an investigation into a potential class action suit against the NSW police for their unlawful use of strip searches. They have also referred a case involving a NSW police officer allegedly assaulting an indigenous teenager to the independent police watchdog. The centre also provides specific legal advice in the following areas.

• Child Protection
• Consumer
• Credit & Debt
• Crime (minor)
• Discrimination and Human Rights
• Domestic Violence
• Employment
• Family Law
• Fines
• Immigration Law
• Police Complaints
• Property Damage
• Tenancy
• International students service

Staff and Board

RLC has over 20 staff members split between this general legal team, Inner Sydney Tenancy Advice & Advocacy Service and administration and management. The current Chief Executive Officer is Camilla Paldolfini. Jacqui Swinburne acts as the Chief Operations Officer along with Alexis Goodstone as Principal Solicitor forming the senior management of the organisation. The centre is supported by the board, with Kerry O’Brien acting as chair of the board and Tamara Sims as secretary.

Volunteers and ''pro-bono''

The RLC relies heavily on volunteer labour and pro-bono assistance from legal professionals to service a heavy caseload. Daytime volunteers tend to be law students or members of the community. Night-time volunteers are solicitors and legal assistants who attend appointments and give legal advice. RLC estimates it attracts approximately 30,000 volunteer hours per year or the equivalent of $900,000 worth of services to the community each year.

Awards

RLC received the 2007 Human Rights Law Award from the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. In particular the award recognised the establishment of the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Assistance Scheme (WDVCAS) which aims to provide women seeking restraining orders as a result of domestic violence with legal advice as well as any other support required (including housing, income support and counselling).

References

References

1. [https://www.iclc.org.au/ Inner City Legal Centre]
2. [https://www.klc.unsw.edu.au/ Kingsford]
3. [https://www.mlc.org.au/ Marrickville]
4. (2020-05-27). "Law firms join forces to investigate strip-search class action against NSW Police".
5. Stonehouse, Greta. (2020-06-03). "Indigenous teen's family wants cop charged".
6. "Community Legal Centres NSW 2018 Directory".
7. "Our Staff {{!}} Redfern Legal Centre".
8. "Our Board of Directors {{!}} Redfern Legal Centre".
9. [http://www.rlc.org.au/volunteer/volunteerintro.html Volunteer – Introduction]
10. [http://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/media/media_releases/2007/113_07.html HREOC media release: Redfern Legal Centre wins Law category at the 2007 Human Rights Awards]
11. [http://www.redwatch.org.au/media/080205sshh/ Human Rights Award for Redfern Legal Centre — REDWatch - Redfern Eveleigh Darlington Waterloo Watch Group]