The Legal Practice operates in a similar way to a private law firm and is organised into three specialised areas - Criminal Practice, Family Practice and Civil Practice.
Our lawyers provide provide the following services:
We also provide services specifically for young people through the Youth Law Centre.
CRIMINAL PRACTICE
The Criminal Practice provides legal advice and acts in cases covering the full range of criminal offences; from serious traffic offences though to serious property and sexual assault cases, and murder. Our lawyers appear for clients in the Magistrates Court cases and brief counsel to appear in more serious matters, including Supreme Court trials and appeals.
FAMILY PRACTICE
The Family Practice provides legal advice and acts in cases arising from relationship breakdown; including parenting arrangements, child support and division of property. Our lawyers also appear as Independent Children’s Lawyers in matters under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) and represent clients in child care and protection cases under the Children and Young People Act 2008 (ACT).
CIVIL PRACTICE
The Civil Practice handles matters relating to civil law, including victim’s compensation, discrimination, mental health proceedings, elder law, and general civil litigation matters.
SPECIALIST UNITS
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PERSONAL PROTECTION ORDER UNIT
The Domestic Violence and Personal Protection Order Unit is part of the General Practice and is located at the ACT Magistrates Court. Unit lawyers provide advice, duty lawyer services and representation for people involved in proceedings under the Domestic Violence and Protection Orders Act 2001 (ACT).
YOUTH LAW CENTRE
The Youth Law Centre provides legal advice, minor assistance and legal education programs for young people aged between 12 and 25 years. The Centre is located at 2 Allsop Street in Civic.
The Centre is operated in partnership with the ANU College of Law and national law firm King Wood Mallesons, with support from the Youth Coalition of the ACT, community legal centres and ANU law students. The Centre provides a location for an undergraduate clinical course run by the ANU College of Law.
PRISONERS LEGAL SERVICE
The Prisoners Legal Service will commence operating when the Territory’s new remand and correctional facility, the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC), opens in 2009. The Service will be part of the Criminal Practice but draws lawyers from other parts of the Legal Practice to provide legal advice and assistance to remand and sentenced prisoners in criminal, family and civil law matters. The Service will operate a regular visiting service to the AMC, a telephone advice service and have provision for video conferencing.