Legal Aid Queensland currently offers a duty lawyer service every day of the week at the Southport Specialist Domestic Violence Court, with 4 duty lawyers available for the Aggrieved and the Respondents each day.

As of 1 September 2015, the Southport Domestic Violence Court underwent significant changes in response to the “Not now, Not ever” report and the rise in domestic violence awareness. The changes to the Southport Domestic Violence court led to Legal Aid Queensland amending the Gold Coast Community Legal Centre’s Pilot Project that began in October 2014 to provide legal advice and assistance to applicants and respondents at the Court. Legal Aid Queensland ensured there was a greater legal service present for people who were attending domestic violence court in conjunction with the changes to the Court’s structure.

Legal Aid Queensland currently offers a duty lawyer service every day of the week at the Southport Specialist Domestic Violence Court, with 4 duty lawyers available for the Aggrieved and the Respondents each day. The Gold Coast Community Legal Centre is operating under this Project as a preferred supplier. We attend the Southport Domestic Violence Court multiple times a week to provide immediate assistance and court representation to people appearing for their domestic violence matters.

A Domestic Violence Duty Lawyer can:

• Give you free advice and information about your legal matter
• Discuss your situation and the options available
• Explain what will happen in court
• Negotiate on your behalf with the other party, the duty lawyer or their solicitor
• Talk to police prosecutors on your behalf
• Help you complete a Legal Aid Queensland application
• Give you advice on family law or other relevant legal matters
• Make referrals to agencies that might be able to help you
• Represent you in court

Our Centre greatly appreciates the opportunity given by Legal Aid to be a part of this project and further assist the Gold Coast community.

Child Protection Duty Lawyer

In addition to our work in the Specialist Domestic Violence court at Southport, our Centre is a preferred supplier for Child Protection duty lawyer services at Southport Court. The duty lawyer service provides parents, young people and other interested parties (such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, foster carers and elders) with valuable legal advice on the day the child protection matter is before the Court. A child protection duty lawyer can:

• Give you free advice and information about your matter
• Discuss your situation and the options available
• Explain what will happen in court
• Negotiate on your behalf with the other party or their solicitor
• Talk to representatives from government agencies on your behalf
• Negotiate interim orders
• Help you complete a Legal Aid Queensland application and inform you about eligibility criteria
• Give you advice on other relevant legal matters
• Make referrals to agencies that might be able to help you

By increasing the duty lawyer services available at Southport Court, it is hoped that family members can take a more active and early role in what can be intrusive process to intervene in a child’s life for their overall safety.

The Gold Coast Community Legal Centre kindly acknowledges that Legal Aid Queensland funds these projects.

Please call us on 07 5532 9611 if you need assistance or have any queries relating to our Domestic Violence Duty Lawyer or Child Protection Duty Lawyer.