Community Justice Services South Australia
A day in the life of a solicitor at Community Justice Services SA
I enjoy travelling out to regional areas. I have noticed that many people tell me they have tried to find a lawyer, but can’t find anyone who can help with their particular issue. They’ve often been referred from one service to another before eventually finding us. Being able to fill that gap is really rewarding.
The best part about this job is being able to help people who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to get the legal assistance they need. Many people tell us they’ve already contacted private lawyers and other organisations, but nobody has been able to help them. If our service didn’t exist, I honestly do not know where many of these people would go.
One of the biggest challenges is access to services generally, not just legal services. People also struggle to access counselling, financial counselling, and other supports.
Travel can also be difficult. We don’t have a permanent office in Murray Bridge, so if someone needs to meet with us in person, they may have to travel to our Noarlunga office or attend appointments on Teams. That makes accessing legal help more difficult than it is for people who live closer to our office.