Legal Assistance
This chapter explores how a person can obtain legal advice or representation, the work that lawyers do and whether an alternative to court is available (e.g. mediation, conciliation or arbitration). An overview of the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania and Community Services specialising in legal advice and representation is also provided.
Community-based Legal Assistance
Legal assistance provides access to the law for many people who would otherwise be unable to afford a lawyer to press their claims in court or assist them in other ways with legal problems. This work can be done either by lawyers on a salary employed by a government-funded agency, or by private s...
Community Legal Services
This chapter still needs a description to be added
Court or Mediation?
In some cases the court process, rather than mediation, is the most appropriate way to sort out disputes. For example, some people want a magistrate to decide who is right or wrong, or they want lawyers to act for them, or they don't want to speak to the other party under any circumstances. (It s...
Alternatives to Lawyers and Courts
Going to court (or litigation) to resolve a dispute is often costly and/or time consuming. With civl matters – such as property issues, family law, or issues around money, there are alternatives to lawyers and courts. Going to court will mean there is a winner and a loser. The loser is require...
Alternative Dispute Resolution
This term is used to describe methods of dispute resolution that are alternative to going to court. Alternative dispute resolution includes arbitration, conciliation and mediation. Each of these processes differs in the amount of control exercised by the disputants over the outcome. Mediation T...
The Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania
The Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania (LACT) was established in Tasmania in 1991 under the Legal Aid Commission Act 1990 (Tas). The governing body of the Commission consists of representatives of the Commonwealth and State Governments, the private legal profession, a person qualified in financial ...
Mediation
This chapter still needs a description to be added
Page last updated 19/03/2018