Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project’s Post

Navigating family disputes is often challenging, especially with Alberta's move toward mandatory Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). For individuals experiencing family violence, the process can feel overwhelming. While mediation can be an effective tool, it must be handled with caution in these cases.     Trauma-informed mediation is essential, as it ensures mediators are aware of the effects of trauma and prioritize safety to prevent further harm. Key elements of this approach include detailed pre-mediation screening, offering virtual mediation options, and utilizing caucus sessions to reduce direct interaction between parties.     For those impacted by family violence, working with mediators who are specifically trained to manage these sensitive situations is crucial. A trauma-informed method promotes safer, more successful outcomes, fostering fair resolutions while supporting individuals affected by violence.     To read the full article by Jana de Waal, visit this link: https://lnkd.in/gT3GsuT5     At Stokes Law, our team is trained in trauma-informed practices, offering compassionate and secure resolution methods.     #Mediation #DisputeResolution #SLMediation 

As the below Daily Telegraph article makes clear, the community legal centres sector is a sector in crisis. Currently, it is estimated that more than 1000 vulnerable people are being turned away from these services every day — including a large proportion of domestic and family violence cases. If the government does not commit to renewed funding, this crisis will only get worse, and hundreds of thousands of Australians will suffer as a result. We are currently in Canberra supporting the launch of Community Legal Centres Australia's #SaveCommunityLegalCentres campaign. In addition to the baseline funding they are asking for, we believe it is essential that the government allocate specialist funding to social security legal services through the National Legal Assistance Partnership agreement (NLAP). Social security systems and law are incredibly complex; so much so that people are incapable of navigating the system themselves. And yet, it is so significant that most of us will come into contact with it at one point or another in our lives. Specialist funding would be the most effective way to increase the capacity of social security lawyers and advocates to provide greater legal assistance to more people, and to ensure we can stop as many people from falling through the cracks as possible. Kate Allingham Katherine Boyle James Farrell Jim Chalmers Bill Shorten Amanda Rishworth https://buff.ly/3yWnr7P

Social security law is incredibly complex, requiring years of specialised training to truly understand. 📚 To protect and build this expertise within the community legal sector, we urgently need dedicated funding. We also need to train the next generation of lawyers in this crucial area of law—something that almost everyone will encounter at some point in their lives. Having access to a social security specialist lawyer can make all the difference: ➡️ Preventing poverty ➡️ Avoiding homelessness ➡️ Escaping violence ➡️ Pursuing education

A recent survey by the Legal Services Corporation found many Americans don't seek legal help for civil issues due to misunderstandings about their rights. Over half of the respondents believe they're entitled to free legal representation in civil cases, yet they often don't pursue it (generally, there is no right to an attorney in civil cases). This gap in legal awareness is contributing to serious issues like eviction, debt collection, and identity theft. 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗩𝗟𝗝 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀! Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is in search of dedicated pro bono attorneys to help bridge the access to justice gap, specifically volunteers who are able to provide extended service/full representation to clients experiencing poverty. Contact VLJ's Eilleen Ingram-Willis or visit vljnj.org/why-probono to learn more and take a case. 🔗More about the LSC poll from Law360: https://lnkd.in/eY5xvA2N #VLJNJ #ProBono #CivilLegalAid #FreeLegalHelp #FreeLegalServices #NewJersey

Funding is critical to the delivery of services in the legal assistance sector.

The Law Society of Western Australia has joined forces with the Australian legal profession to call on all governments for an urgent increase in funding for the legal assistance sector.   Daily, the legal assistance sector’s services are relied upon by people who may be experiencing family violence, elder abuse or are at risk of homelessness. However, this sector has suffered greatly under decades of funding neglect and cannot keep up with demand for services. It is in crisis. On 28 May 2024, the Final Report of the Independent Review of the National Legal Assistance Partnership (NLAP) was released. This Report is a thorough investigation into the legal assistance landscape and provides clear guidance for how access to justice in Australia can be dramatically improved: https://lnkd.in/g8fxCarq. Urgent action is needed as confirmed NLAP funding ends in less than 12 months.   Visit www.A2J4ALL.au to learn more about the campaign.   #A2J4AAL Law Council of Australia

South Africa's judiciary is facing a severe backlog, with civil trial dates now being pushed as far as 2029. While pro bono judges have been stepping up to help, it's clear that this is just a temporary fix for a much larger problem. The need for more judges and resources is urgent. Delayed justice is denied justice, and without meaningful reform, the independence and functionality of our courts are at risk. It's time for swift action to ensure that our legal system can serve its purpose efficiently. https://lnkd.in/dmvcK3Jm #JudicialReform #AccessToJustice #LegalSystem #JudgesMatter #SouthAfrica

Circle Green supports the "Save Community Legal Centres: End the Funding Crisis" campaign. Access to Justice is an important part of protecting core principles of our democracy. However, for an increasing number of people, access to justice is not affordable leading to unfair and unjust outcomes. Community Legal Centres play a critical role in supporting access to justice however funding is insufficient with over 1,000 people turned away from centres each day. Last year Circle Green experienced a significant increase in demand across all our legal support services, and recorded 9,517 turnaways across our humanitarian, tenancy and workplace law areas. The crisis will only worsen until the sector secures a guarantee of ongoing funding. Read more and add your endorsement here: https://ow.ly/XMCU50T2GnT #SaveCommunityLegalCentres #FundFrontlineServices #CommunityLaw

🔍 Helping South African Families with Expert Legal Guidance 💼 Meet the Joubert family, a young couple navigating the complexities of their community scheme in South Africa. As they settled into their new home, they encountered legal challenges regarding levy collections and management rules that left them feeling overwhelmed and uncertain. Faced with confusion over trustee responsibilities and dispute resolution procedures, the Jouberts turned to STS for guidance. Our specialised legal team swiftly provided clarity on governing legislation, outlined trustee obligations clearly, and guided them through the CSOS dispute resolution process with confidence. At STS, we understand the importance of protecting homeowners' rights and ensuring fair treatment within community schemes. Our expertise in community scheme law and property management allowed us to tailor a solution that resolved the Jouberts' legal concerns efficiently and effectively. Are you facing legal challenges within your community scheme? Whether navigating complex governance issues, resolving disputes, or ensuring compliance with property legislation, STS is here to help your scheme. Reach out today to discover how we can assist you: https://lnkd.in/dTmGB5Z #CommunityScheme #LegalExpertise #SectionalTitleSolutions #Empowerment #FamilyProtection

The judiciary in South Africa is struggling under the weight of an explosion in litigation, with no corresponding increase in judges to handle the load. Acting and pro bono judges have helped keep the system running, but civil trial delays are now extending into 2029. This is not a sustainable solution. Reform and proper resource allocation are crucial to restoring balance and ensuring that justice is served fairly and promptly. How much longer can we rely on emergency measures before our judiciary breaks? https://ow.ly/KorS50ThkWp #JudicialCrisis #LegalReform #AccesstoJustice #SouthAfrica #JudgesMatter