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  • 03 The Justice System
  • Legal Assistance
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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...

Mediation

This chapter still needs a description to be added

The Law Society of Tasmania

The Law Society of Tasmania provides an internet search function to find a suitable lawyer according to practice area and location in Tasmania. It also lists the law firms that exist in Tasmania, currently totalling 144 in all. The Law Society cannot provide legal advice. It is handy to the...

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 ...

Page last updated 19/03/2018

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