A new Sydney-based not-for-profit family law firm, Wallumatta Legal, aims to provide legal services to the ‘missing middle’, those not eligible for Legal Aid or other free services but who cannot easily afford fees charged by commercial lawyers.
A collaboration with global law firm DLA Piper, Wallumatta Legal has evolved from research that identified family law as one of the biggest areas of unmet legal need in Australia.
Says Associate Professor Lise Barry, Interim Dean of Macquarie Law School, “A lot of essential workers – aged care workers, nurses, teachers, cleaners and delivery drivers ̶̶̶ fall into the ‘missing middle’.
The reality, she says, is that unless you’re on Centrelink benefits and don’t have many assets, you’re not going to meet the threshold. Even then, Legal Aid is available only for certain matters in family law. It is not usually available for property disputes, for instance, she says.
“Anyone with a net income over $400 a week is generally not going to meet the eligibility for Legal Aid. Some 14% of the population live below the Henderson Poverty Line yet only 8% will be eligible for Legal Aid.” (The Henderson Poverty Line was devised by the Melbourne Institute’s foundation director, Professor Ronald Henderson, in 1975; in 2021 this was established as $1091.50 a week for a family of two adults, one of whom is working, and two dependent children.)
An online questionnaire collates information ahead of an initial consultation, enabling the lawyer to focus on providing the client with advice and representation rather than the often-costly face-to-face process of collecting information.
The new clinic fast-tracks students’ ability to make real-world, positive changes to their communities with valuable insights into the practical application of family law.
Source: Ground-breaking family law firm bridges affordability gap | The Lighthouse