Marrickville Legal Centre

Marrickville Legal Centre (MLC) is a not-for-profit community legal centre based in Sydney's inner-west, New South Wales, Australia. Established to promote social justice, the Centre provides free and accessible legal and related services primarily to people experiencing social and economic disadvantage throughout New South Wales, with a particular focus on Sydney’s inner-west, south-west, and southern suburbs.

Mission and Vision

The vision of Marrickville Legal Centre is to advance social justice by offering legal assistance and advocacy to vulnerable and marginalized communities. MLC aims to address inequalities by ensuring legal support is available to those who are often unable to afford it, helping to secure equitable rights and outcomes.

Services

MLC offers a broad range of specialist and generalist legal services including:

• General Legal Service: Provides advice and assistance on a wide variety of legal issues to adults in Sydney’s inner-west and southern suburbs, mainly through appointment-based advice clinics conducted both during the day and evenings.

• Youth Legal Service: Delivers free legal information, advice, and assistance to young people aged 25 years and younger across New South Wales, often through phone consultations and outreach programs.

• Domestic Violence Support Service: Offers integrated legal and non-legal support to individuals who have experienced family and domestic violence, focusing on community-based assistance that may be more accessible than police or court services. Services include risk assessments, safety planning, advocacy, and referral.

• Family Law Service: Supports disadvantaged individuals or those experiencing family violence in navigating post-separation arrangements to achieve workable outcomes.

• Strata Collective Sales Advocacy Service: Provides free legal information, advice, assistance, and advocacy specifically to owner-occupiers of strata units and townhouses within New South Wales.

• Tenancy Service: Specializes in assisting renters within Sydney’s Inner West and Northern Sydney areas, addressing tenancy-related legal issues.

In addition to direct legal services, MLC engages in community legal education, participates in local, state-wide, and national networks, and works collaboratively with other community organizations to expand access to justice.

Community Engagement and Impact

MLC is widely recognized for its commitment to social justice and equality, particularly for economically disadvantaged communities and immigrants in the Inner West of Sydney. By providing free legal services, it helps people who might otherwise be excluded from the legal system due to financial constraints. The organisation has been highlighted for its role in fighting for tenants' rights, domestic violence survivors, and youth, ensuring vulnerable groups receive comprehensive support and advocacy[1][4][5].

Organisation and Structure

As a registered not-for-profit entity, Marrickville Legal Centre operates under the Australian Business Number (ABN) 53699012017RR0001. It functions through a mix of professional legal staff, volunteers, and partnerships with local agencies to deliver its services effectively and sustainably[1][3].

Marrickville Legal Centre continues to be a vital resource for legal aid, embodying principles of fairness, inclusivity, and community empowerment within the legal landscape of New South Wales.

[1] https://www.mlc.org.au [2] https://www.instagram.com/marrickvillelegalcentre/ [3] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/d7197b09-2caf-e811-a963-000d3ad24077/profile [4] https://cbdvsd.com.au/marrickville-legal-centre/ [5] https://historymatters.sydney.edu.au/2024/11/fighting-for-social-justice-marrickville-legal-centre/