Free legal aid available

By Ben Caddaye

A MEMORANDUM of understanding has been struck between the Law Council of Australia and the RSL to provide free emergency legal aid to all Defence Force personnel.

RSL Legal Aid, launched recently by Attorney-General Philip Ruddock, will provide emergency pro bono legal advice to Defence Force personnel who, because of their service commitments, may not have time to organise to see a lawyer.

The Law Societies of New South Wales, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, the Law Institute of Victoria, the Legal Services Commission of South Australia, the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania and Legal Aid Western Australia will provide pro bono legal advice by telephone to Service personnel.

Law Council President John North said the agreement represented the first time the legal profession had offered pro bono services specifically designed to satisfy the needs of Australia’s Defence Force personnel.

“Ready access to legal advice or guidance by telephone to a member of the Services, wherever they may be located, should provide reassurance to the Service community that their legal problems can be readily addressed,” Mr North said.

“RSL Legal Aid provides recognition by our profession that our Service community, now exposed to new and unseen perils in the face of terrorism, requires practical assistance from the civilian population,” he said.

Mr Ruddock thanked the legal profession for its willingness to assist in such an important pro bono initiative.

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