Legal Aid NSW

We’re thrilled to announce that Sophie Farnsworth has been recognised as a finalist in the NSW Premier’s Awards for the Anthea Kerr Award. Throughout her work in Far West, Sophie has tackled entrenched disadvantage with integrity and tenacity, delivering high-impact legal services across some of NSW’s most remote and disadvantaged communities. You can read more about her work on the Premier’s Awards website: https://loom.ly/-FeEXPE Congratulations Sophie and all of the finalists. #PremiersAwards #NSWGovernment

Anthony Levin used his John Hennessy Legal Scholarship to research health care in British Columbia’s correctional system. The article reflects on how Indigenous health initiatives and cultural programs in British Columbia are supporting Indigenous people inside prison and beyond, and what we in NSW can learn from them.

In our latest episode of the Criminal Law Division podcast, Legal Aid NSW solicitor’s Claudia Cejas and Lucy Maranga are joined by James Clifford from the Aboriginal Legal Service to unpack Section 22C of the Bail Act. They talk about the devastating impact it can have when young people are held in jail while waiting to go to court, where they may be found not guilty. As Karly Warner, CEO of the Aboriginal Legal Service NSWACT, powerfully states: "Increasing child imprisonment has not only failed to reduce crime but has put another generation of children into an express training program for a life of crime and suffering." This episode is a must-listen for criminal lawyers or anyone working in youth justice. Listen today: https://lnkd.in/gtd7aTXA #LegalAidNSW #Bail #CrimePodcast

Ever had a tenancy client whose rent had been excessively increased? You might want to share our Law Week webinar where we covered this and more. You can watch the full webinar on our YouTube channel: https://lnkd.in/ghcJ_d9a Tenants' Union of NSW #LegalAidNSW #RentalLaws #KnowYourRights

Mr Warwick needed to relocate due to his worsening health, but the NDIA refused to help with the costs of the move saying they were a ‘day-to-day living cost’. With the help of Legal Aid NSW, he challenged the decision in Federal Court and won. We argued that the costs were not an everyday expense and were directly related to his disability. NDIA appealed this decision to the Full Federal but were unsuccessful. The Full Federal Court agreed: “One-off, remarkable, unforeseen, infrequent or extraordinary costs will not be excluded by the rule, even if they are costs that all or the majority of persons incur for the purposes of living.” This new precedent could make it harder in some cases for the NDIA to reject supports as “day-to-day living costs” under the NDIS Supports for Participants Rules. New rules introduced in October 2024 now specifically exclude certain day-to-day costs (including the very costs Mr Warwick is seeking). The Administrative Review Tribunal will soon decide whether those rules apply to participants like Mr Warwick who are on older plans. Read more about the judgment : https://lnkd.in/ejBt2vZn

What does the future of child representation look like? Join us for the 2025 Legal Aid NSW Child Representation Conference on Thursday 6 November at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. This one day event brings together leading voices in child representation, law, and policy, including keynote speaker Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts, inaugural Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, to explore how we can better hear and represent children in legal proceedings. From unconscious bias and direct representation to evidence led approaches in complex cases; the program is designed for practitioners who are hungry to learn, challenge assumptions, and shape the future of child representation. Check out the full program and register here: https://lnkd.in/gC3eCSTt

This is such a thoughtfully written piece by my colleagues Kimberley Hamer and Melissa Burgess. As one of the largest organisations providing frontline legal services, Legal Aid NSW has an important part to play in reversing the worrying numbers of Aboriginal people and young people in custody.

Are you working with clients with tenancy issues? We covered ‘no grounds’ evictions and more in our Law Week webinar. You can watch the full webinar on our YouTube channel: https://lnkd.in/ghcJ_d9a #LegalAidNSW #RentalLaws #KnowYourRights Tenants' Union of NSW

Meet Theo Georgiadis, one of our newest criminal law grads. While completing his degree and legal training, Theo worked as a court officer. He watched lawyers in action from behind the bench, but it was the Legal Aid NSW solicitors who stood out. “They were kind, tireless, and skilled advocates. I knew I wanted to be a part of that team, to learn from them and make a meaningful contribution,” says Theo. And today, he’s doing just that! Theo will spend 3 months in Sydney before doing a year in Regional NSW where he’ll get to make a positive impact on the lives of people during their most vulnerable times. “Legal Aid has been an incredibly supportive learning environment. Everyone has been so generous with their time, their knowledge, and their good humour.” Welcome to the team, Theo! #LegalAidNSW #CriminalLaw #LawGraduate

Barking dogs, loud music and car alarms are common issues neighbours have disagreements about. If a client has a dispute with your neighbour about noise, there are different steps that they can take to deal with noise issues. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g22mxxbG