Legal Aid NSW administers funding on behalf of the Commonwealth Government, NSW Government and the Public Purpose Fund for the Community Legal Centres Program (CLCP) in NSW. The program funds 32 generalist and specialist CLCs and the sector’s peak body Community Legal Centres NSW (CLCNSW). The CLC Program also funds a number of other programs that provide non-legal support including the Aboriginal Legal Access Program (ALAP), Children’s Court Assistance Scheme (CCAS) and the Court Support Scheme (CSS).
Specialist CLCs provide legal services across NSW in relation to a particular area of law (such as tenancy or consumer law) or to a particular group of people (such as older people or refugees). Generalist CLCs provide legal assistance in a range of areas of law and will usually service a particular geographic catchment area.
What are Community Legal Centres?
Community Legal Centres (CLCs) are independent non-government community organisations providing equitable and accessible legal services and related services to the public. CLCs are different from other providers of legal services. They are not-for-profit organisations independent of government, commercial or professional bodies. They are community-based organisations with a particular focus on the disadvantaged and those with special needs.
CLCs hold significance as they focus their services on vulnerable people facing disadvantage. CLCs not only provide legal advice and assistance, but also encourage and educate the community to be their own advocates. CLCs promote and contribute to human rights and social justice by advocating for access to justice, equitable laws and legal systems.
Looking for more information about CLCs? Head over to Community Legal Centre NSW (CLCNSW).
Information on the allocations of some CLC Program funding for the period 1 January 2023 to 30 June 2025 can be found in the CLC Program Funding Appliocation Process document.
Need legal help?
For legal help, call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).