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Spotlight: Macarthur Legal Centre | Otter.ai

Spotlight: Macarthur Legal Centre

CLE Legalaid8min

Yasmine

00:00

This podcast was recorded on the country of the Wangal people of the Eora nation. We pay our respects to elder's past and present. As we gather for Law Week may we recognise the law, education and storytelling that has been practised on these lands for 10s of 1000s of years. Always was, always will be.

Yasmine

00:25

This is spotlight, a mini series where we shine a light on some of the best events and activities happening in Law Week 2022. My name is Yasmine and I'm a content creator with Legal Aid New South Wales, one of the partners of Law Week. New South Wales Law Week is an annual festival that is all about creating greater access to justice. This year's Law Week takes place between the 16th and 22nd of May. There are heaps of events happening across the state, online and in person to help you understand your rights, the law, the legal system and the legal profession. You can find out what's on via the events schedule at Law Week nsw.org.au. Today in the spotlight, we have a MacArthur Legal Centre. I chat to Melissa about what MacArthur Legal Centre does and their events for Law Week. 2022. Thank you for joining me on the podcast today. Melissa, could you please tell me a bit about your role at MacArthur Legal Centre?

Melissa (MLC)

01:24

So I'm one of the senior solicitors at MacArthur Legal Centre. I originally worked at the centre as a volunteer solicitor just to give back to the community and get involved in some social justice. And then I was offered a position So collectively, I've been working at MacArthur Legal Centre since 2012. So I've been there for quite a while.

Yasmine

01:44

So what do you love most about working at MacArthur Legal Centre?

Melissa (MLC)

01:49

So the reason I studied law was because I wanted to help people. I love working at MacArthur Legal Centre as I can do exactly that. I also enjoy being a generalist solicitor at MacArthur Legal Centre, because we advise in several different areas of law, which means that there's never a dull moment.

Yasmine

02:06

And you mentioned that MacArthur Legal Centre do a lot of different things. How would you describe what MacArthur Legal Centre does? What services do you provide

Melissa (MLC)

02:15

with MacArthur legal centre - so our legal team provides free legal advice, information, referrals and casework to people who live in the New South Wales local government areas of Campbelltown, Camden, Wollondilly, Wingecarribee, Goulburn, Upper Lachlan Shire and the Yass Valley. So we do actually cover quite a large area and our other services so we have our legal team and we also have the MacArthur women's domestic violence court Advocacy Service, the Southwest Sydney tenants advice and Advocacy Service, Children's Court assistance scheme, Aboriginal legal assistance programme, community legal education programme, law reform and also community support.

Yasmine

02:59

This podcast is highlighting some of the events and activities taking place for Law Week. What events does MacArthur Legal Centre have planned for law week?

Melissa (MLC)

03:09

So for Law Week this year, we've organised in partnership with Campbelltown library one of our award winning let's talk legal series, community legal education sessions called wills for everyone. The presentation will cover everything an individual needs to know about preparing a will enduring power of attorney and enduring guardianship.

Yasmine

03:30

That's great. And who is that event for?

Melissa (MLC)

03:35

As the title suggests Wills for everyone. So everyone is welcome. Another thing about MacArthur Legal Centre is we don't means or merit test. So we're able to provide free legal advice to anyone that lives within those New South Wales local government, LGAs. Well, the LGAs that I've just gone through

Yasmine

03:54

and with the event for Law Week, is that happening in person, online or a blended event?

Melissa (MLC)

04:03

actually in person at Campbelltown library. So that's happening next Thursday, the 19th of May, and that starts at 5pm at Campbelltown library. Two weeks after the wills for everyone presentation at Campbelltown library, myself and one of my colleagues will actually be attending Campbelltown library, again from 1pm to 5pm. And will actually be seeing people who want a Will Power of Attorney and or enduring Guardian drafted. We'll meet with them all confidential, obviously, but we'll meet with them on site at the library and take instructions for their documents. And then we'll draft them on a separate day and then arrange an appointment for them to actually attend our office to review and sign the documents.

Yasmine

04:54

That's fantastic and a really good service and opportunity for people to know. Why should people care about having a will and these other legal arrangements?

Melissa (MLC)

05:08

So I get asked this question a lot. And my usual response to that is, everyone should have a will. A lot of people are under the impression that they actually have to own property to actually have a will drafted. That's incorrect. So there's other things that you may own that you would like to go to certain people and a will is the only way to make sure that your wishes are carried out after you pass away. It's like that saying the only two things in life that are guaranteed are taxes and death. So it's always good to at least have a will in place.

Yasmine

05:46

That's a great summary and a great saying for everyone to remember. And in general, why should people get involved in law week

Melissa (MLC)

05:53

so people should get involved in Law Week because it's a programme of community events and activities that are designed specifically to help people understand their legal rights, the law, the legal system, and also the legal profession.

Yasmine

06:07

Right. And if you could describe Law Week in one word, what would it be?

Melissa (MLC)

06:11

knowledge

Yasmine

06:12

knowledge, I like that one. And just to finalise about MacArthur Legal Centre, what's one thing people may not know about your service?

Melissa (MLC)

06:22

That we provide free legal advice, information and referrals to everyone within our local government areas, regardless of their assets or income, and that we provide free legal advice in several different areas of law, including but not limited to family law, care and protection, child support, wills, power of attorney, guardianship, traffic matters, fines and revenue, New South Wales matters, neighbourhood disputes, employment law discrimination, consumer complaints, centrelink issues and you know, a variety of other miscellaneous civil law matters.

Yasmine

06:58

Right. And lastly, how can someone find out more about MacArthur Legal Centre?

Melissa (MLC)

07:04

so they can visit the MacArthur Legal Centre website, the official MacArthur Legal Centre, Facebook page, our Twitter page, or they can contact our office directly on 46282042.

Yasmine

07:18

And we'll have all of this information in the show notes for this episode. And thank you so much, Melissa, for chatting to me today.

Melissa (MLC)

07:27

You're very welcome.

Yasmine

07:29

Thank you, too. That's all for spotlight today. Thank you again to Melissa and MacArthur Legal Centre for chatting to us on the podcast and check the show notes for links to their events. I'd also like to thank Marrickville Legal Centre, the State Library of New South Wales' Find Legal Answers and Tenants Union New South Wales for supporting this podcast and Law Week New South Wales. Have a great Law Week.

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