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New ‘low-fee’ family law service set to open in Victoria
A new affordable family law service is launching in Victoria to improve individuals’ “access to justice” and tackle the nationwide rise in clients “unable to afford private fees”.
Grace Robbie
Wallumatta Legal, a not-for-profit law firm, has joined forces with Melbourne Law School to extend its successful NSW-based initiative into Victoria.
This is a significant issue in Victoria, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics data revealing that 32.5 per cent of the population in 2021 are on low incomes.
The new practice will be based on the Melbourne Law School campus. It will involve law school students to “boost capacity while training the next generation of community-minded family lawyers”.
Nicky Neville-Jones, a senior solicitor at Wallumatta Legal, emphasised the importance of providing accessible family law legal services to low-income individuals in Victoria.
“Wallumatta Legal’s family law focus is a crucial service for Victorian communities post-COVID, with calls for increased family law assistance across the state,” Neville-Jones said.
“What we are aiming to do in Victoria is really cut into what we refer to as the ‘missing middle’ – a growing and under-assisted cohort of low- to middle-income earners with no access to government-funded legal services, and no capacity to afford private assistance.”
This is a crucial issue to tackle, as Neville-Jones outlined that “matters that proceed to a final hearing often cost clients nearly $100,000 in private legal fees” and explained that she has seen figures that are “more than twice that” amount.
Kate Fischer-Doherty, the director of Melbourne Law School Clinics and responsible for managing student clinical placements at Wallumatta Legal, emphasised the benefits of involving law school students in this initiative.
“Not only will the assistance of law students help to meet surging clientele demands, but the placements will provide students with an opportunity to ready their practical skills with clients from a diverse range of backgrounds,” Fischer-Doherty said.
“Family law assistance is vital given the complex implications these matters can often have on the wellbeing of women and children in particular. Family lawyers see people at their most vulnerable. Future lawyers, demonstrating their commitment to community justice, can further develop in this clinic a professional identity founded in societal benefit.”
A generous grant from the Victorian Legal Services Board is supporting the collaboration between Wallumatta Legal and Melbourne Law School.
Vivian Galanis, head of legal at Wallumatta Legal, expressed how honoured the firm feels to expand its initiative through partnerships with the University of Melbourne and the Victorian Legal Services Board.
“Their support of our initiative presents a tremendous opportunity to provide much-needed legal services and continue our efforts to bridge the gap for the ‘missing middle’ in accessing justice,” Galanis said.
“We have seen significant growth in our New South Wales practice in a relatively short period of time, demonstrating the high level of legal need in this area. We hope to replicate those efforts in Victoria with the recruitment of our senior solicitor Nicky Neville-Jones.”
Wallumatta Legal’s Victorian practice has started providing legal services to clients with family law matters, including “divorce, parenting and property matters and offering assistance with both litigated and out-of-court matters”.
