The Law Handbook 2024

70 Section 2: Getting help You or your lawyer must request reconsideration within 14 days from the date of the letter informing you of the decision. Your letter must include the reasons why you think VLA should change their decision. VLA will then send you a letter to let you know if they are changing their decision or if it remains the same. If you are still unhappy with VLA’s decision, you can have the decision reviewed by an independent reviewer. This is a person appointed by the Victorian Attorney-General and is not a VLA employee. You must write to VLA to ask for an independent review within 21 days from the date of the letter informing you of the reconsidered decision. Usually, the independent reviewer’s decision is the final decision. However, you may have the right to go to court to request a further review. You should get independent legal advice as this will only be granted within strict time-lines and under limited circumstances. More information on legal assistance grants For more detailed information about grants of legal assistance, see VLA’s Handbook for Lawyers (available at handbook.vla.vic.gov.au) . This website sets out how to apply for grants of legal assistance and the guidelines and conditions attached to grants. It also explains the payment structure for private lawyers who perform legal aid work. Community legal centres There are 47 community legal centres throughout Victoria. They are staffed by paid and volunteer lawyers and non-legal staff. Most community legal centres are funded by the Commonwealth and state governments. VLA administers this funding. Some centres receive funding from other sources, such as local councils, universities and trusts. Community legal centres offer free legal advice; most offer a combination of day and evening legal advice sessions. Some of the centres do not require appointments for their legal advice sessions, but it is always wise to telephone first. Services provided Community legal centres are a good starting point to: • obtain legal advice; • sort out a legal problem; • determine eligibility for legal assistance; • complete application forms for legal assistance. A number of centres also: • handle negotiations and write letters of demand; • arrange representation in court proceedings. The range of services provided varies, as each centre has developed its own specific set of guidelines. Most centres have paid staff and are therefore able to handle a wider range of legal work (e.g. court representation, issuing and defending summonses and preparing documents). Community legal centres also participate in a broad range of activities relating to preventative law, law reform and community legal education. Education assists members of the community to gain a better understanding of the legal system and the specific areas of the law that may affect them. Contact your nearest community legal centre if you would like a speaker to talk to a group about a specific area of the law, or on the legal system generally. For details about obtaining legal information and resources, contact the Federation of Community Legal Centres (tel: 9652 1501) or visit their website (www.fclc.org.au) . Some centres also run do-it- yourself classes and/or have kits on common legal problems (e.g. divorce, wills and car accidents). Details of these can be obtained from the federation. Eligibility Community legal centres do not have any formal means tests. Advice is generally given to anyone who attends. Generalist centres, however, attempt to cater for people in their local community. The high demand for assistance often means that geographical limitations are applied, and clients are requested to contact the centre nearest their home address. Community legal centres generally take on cases where no legal assistance is available if: • the service user comes from a culturally and lin- guistically diverse background;