Community Legal EducationFor people who face the complex challenges of resettling in Australia, legal education and information about legal services can significantly reduce the risks of hardship and social isolation. Traditionally, however, migrant communities have negotiated the first years of settlement in Australia with a limited understanding of the laws and operation of our legal system.
Community Legal Education (CLE) plays a key role in assisting newly arrived communities improve their awareness of their rights and obligations and thus achieve greater social mobility and self-reliance. At one level, CLE increases basic knowledge of the law and encourages access to the legal system through provision of information about sources of legal assistance. It also provides an effective vehicle to engage and consult with communities and thus identify legal needs and gaps in service provision.
Another important dimension of community legal education is that it has the potential to increase understanding of the underlying political and judicial structures and processes that impact on our lives.
Our approach to delivering legal education consists of three stages:
The Legal Services Commission of South Australia is committed to providing legal education opportunities to communities and organisations. If you are interested in learning more about our CLE projects please contact one of our legal education officers. |
