The CLOCK Community Legal Companion (CLC) is an innovative distinct role developed from the McKenzie Friend principle, to assist litigants-in-person access charitable, legal aid, affordable and pro bono services, and assist in court proceedings.
The role of the 'Community Legal Companion has attained the local court's recognition of a neutral, objective and professionally guided, assistance in family law, social welfare, and housing matters in court proceedings.
CLOCK delivers a comprehensive training course to University Participants to collaboratively train their law students to act as Community Legal Companions, to provide support to the litigant, from filling in applications to sorting through papers and note-taking in formal proceedings.
The CLC will also help individuals consider the wider range of legal pathways through dispute resolution or within the court room.
The CLOCK Community Legal Companion Service can be directly accessed online 'Apply for Assistance' , or at your participating court, charitable or law practitioner services.
Public Legal Companion Desks
A Community Legal Companion may assist with:
- Assessing the possibility for legal aid funding
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Assist with court application forms i.e.
- Divorce and Dissolution
- Children Arrangements Applications
- Suspending Evictions
- Debt and Administration Applications
- Arranging Paper Work; Evidence Criteria for Legal Aid, Case papers
- Accompanying in formal proceedings; Litigant/Witness Support
- Attending to take notes
Signpost to charitable companion services
Signpost to Affordable Legal Service
Charitable Legal Companion Desks
A Community Legal Companion may assist with:
- Assessing the possibility for legal aid funding
- Assist with Application forms; Preparing Evidence Criteria for Legal Aid
- Arranging Paper work; Evidence Criteria for Legal Aid and civil applications
- Accompanying in Formal Proceedings; Civil and Private Family Law, Witness Support, Employment Support Allowance and Personal Independent Payment Assessments
- Attending as a Note taker; Civil and Private Family proceedings
Signpost to public companion services
Signpost to Affordable Legal Services
Private Legal Companion Desks
A Community Legal Companion may assist with:
- Assessing the possibility for legal aid funding
- Application Forms; Preparing Evidence Criteria for Legal Aid
- Arranging Papers; Case papers
- Accompanying in Mediation/Court proceedings; litigant/witness support
- Attending as a Notetaker
Access to Specialist Legal Services
- Affordable
- Fixed Fee Packages
Signpost litigant/witness to the public companion services, police/court/council
Signpost to Charitable companion services