Last Wednesday we were introduced to an organisation the majority of us didn’t even know it existed: My Community Legal (MCL) provides “a free, responsive and accessible legal service to those who most need it”, Zoe outlined. The vast bulk of MCL’s services are provided pro bono publico [yes, Henrietta, my Latin might be a bit rusty, but I still remember that this means free of charge!].
But they are not only there to provide legal services, they are also engaging in legal education. This might be related to clients, but also provides emerging lawyers, such as Zoe, with an opportunity to practice under the supervision of experienced law professionals. Whilst MCL is giving advice, they do not go to court on behalf of clients. However, they can refer clients to the appropriate services.Established in 2014, MCL has grown to service up to 45 clients every week, currently around 1000 annually. Whilst all areas of legal services are addressed, heavy emphasis is given to Domestic Violence – some 781 clients last year. Yes, it is a major problem: “1 in 4 women has experienced emotional abuse by a current or previous partner. Even more concerning: 1 in 6 have experienced physical or sexual violence” Zoe informed us.
You can check out Zoe’s PowerPoint slides – see Download section on the right, which include contact details.