Referring to "Appropriate" Legal Services / Hawkesbury/Nepean Community Legal Centre
This workshop aims to help clients who need legal assistance out of the "revolving door" of inappropriate referrals. It will also make clear the difference between legal advice, representation and mediation and clarify which legal services provide what services, including a handout guide to legal referrals. For more information contact Hawkesbury/Nepean Community Legal Centre on 02 4588 5618.
Referral competencies
These draft referral competencies have been developed by the NSW Legal Referral Forum
Getting off the referral roundabout: making effective legal referrals, Kingsford Legal Centre, 2005
This DVD outlines the key competencies for making an effective legal referral. It is aimed at community organisations and also staff in legal assistance services such as community legal centres, particularly front office staff and volunteers. The video is based on the Referral competencies developed by the Legal Referral Forum. There is also an accompaying workbook with additional information and exercises. For more information contact Federation Press.
General notes
Case studies which demonstrate a range of issues and role plays are useful. Practical examples from participant experience, take away written information such as posters, sheets with areas of law.
Training can involve orientation, supervision, feedback, kits
Community Legal Centre referral training needs to include what other agencies do, what centre does, when to refer to centre staff, guidelines, when staff need to know more
There is a need for training of volunteers at the front desk e.g. Law Society training for College of Law volunteer students — provided with a folder of useful information before they start; Marrickville volunteers are provided with an advice and casework manual
Law Access does referral training for their staff
Would be useful to develop a paralegal course — diploma, certificate. Redfern Legal Centre Publishing runs 'Law for non lawyers'.
