Times are tough and they can get more tangled when it comes to legal issues. Lawyers from Waitemata Community Law Centre are now based at Citizens Advice Bureau Helensville to provide free legal clinic sessions. They will provide initial 20-minute sessions to assess and fact gather information from clients.
The clinic is hosted by the CAB fortnightly Tuesday from 10am to noon at its office at 16 Commercial Road. “Our work aligns well with the law centre and is a win-win for clients who often need a legal ear for a variety of situations in their lives,” CAB Helensville manager Rani Timoti says. “Some of our clients struggle financially and with transport to get to the law centre based in Henderson. However, we try to help them first before referring them on.”
Principal Solicitor Asheeta Nandini says they’ve been able to recruit up to 7 lawyers so far to provide this important outreach service. “Asheeta gave us a good run-down on what they do and can’t do as well as interesting information about the law centre. Both of our organisations are keenly interested and looking forward to how this co-action will work out,” says Rani.
Since the clinic started officially from March 11, things have been steady. “We had a short timeframe to promote and get the word out, and clients have been booking in,” says Rani. “But once people learn about this service, we can expect it to get busier.”
Clients can fill out the forms at the office which are then sent to the law centre to co-ordinate all the necessary bookings and assess criteria. Following the initial session, a lawyer can choose to take on the case and all the delivery provision will be free to the end of the case.
“This amazing allegiance has come about through our CAB North Shore project manager Tim Charman, also a CAB Helensville volunteer and peer reviewer, who has been negotiating with the law centre to operate clinic sessions at different branches,” says Rani. The law centre is also updating branding, brochures and information to cater for this new networking.
Lawyers can do mediation, court applications and disciplinary meetings as part of their on-going work. They can also help with disputes and tenancy forms.
However, they don’t go to court, draft Enduring Power of Attorney or wills, witness or advise on EPAs or wills. Other eligibility criteria will apply.
Self-referral is another option for clients on the law centre’s website: www.waitematalaw.org.nz/contact
Pop on in to our office at 16 Commercial Road, Helensville from Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm or Saturday from 10am to noon for any information about our legal clinic bookings. Phone: 09 420 7162 or email helensville@cab.org.nz
Citizens Advice Bureau Helensville volunteers share with Waitemata Community Law Centre Principal Solicitor Asheeta Nandini, right, and co-action with the new legal clinic
