Waitakere Community Law Service was established specifically to assist people in Waitakere City, but has recently expanded its services to assist people living in the North Shore City and Rodney District Council areas. We offer:
- Free legal and tenancy advice
- Legal education
- Community mediation service
See here for a list of our priority groups that we are funded to help.
Free Legal Advice, including tenancy advice
We offer free legal advice, including tenancy advice, for people on low incomes for clients who reside in the Waitakere, Rodney or North Shore area. We work in the following areas of law:
- Family
- Employment
- Discrimination
- Consumer and Debt
- Benefit entitlements
- Criminal and traffic
- Tenancy and housing
- Public/Administrative (ie problems with government agencies)
- Immigration
CLINIC DETAILS
Henderson, Waitakere
We operate 4 morning legal walk-in clinics at our Henderson office, 1a Trading Place, Henderson.
Clinic times: 9.30am – 11am (Monday to Thursday). You will be seen by a lawyer, or our tenancy advisor, if you come within those times. No appointments necessary.
Northcote Outreach Service
We operate a legal walk in clinic every Monday clinic at Northcote CAB, 10am – 1pm.
This is situated in the Norman King Building (opposite Northcote Library), Ernie Mays Street, Northcote. One of our lawyers will be there during that time. No appointments are necessary.
0800 INFO LINE
We also operate an 0800 law info line, Monday – Thursday between 1:30pm – 3:30pm, on 0800 529 463. A lawyer will answer and provide 5-10 minutes of information.
WHAT KIND OF HELP CAN WE GIVE YOU?
WCLS seeks to provide clients with sufficient legal information, advice, strategies and tools to solve their legal issue for themselves. We also take on other work on behalf of our clients:
- Legal Assistance. This includes:
-
writing letters
- filling out forms
- witnessing and certifying documents
- making phone calls
- drafting Court and Tribunal documents and submissions
- negotiating settlements on behalf of clients
- attending meetings with clients
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- Representation Except in exceptional circumstances, WCLS is not able to represent clients in Courts or Tribunals. If a client requires representation in a Court or a Tribunal, WCLS will usually refer the client to a private solicitor and cease to act for the client on that matter.
- Empowerment The emphasis on empowerment remains throughout – the client will be encouraged to undertake whatever tasks they are capable of doing themselves.
- Help with language Waitākere Community Law Service now has access to Language Line through the Office of Ethnic Affairs. Our lawyers now have access to interpreters who speak 40 different languages. Having professional interpreters means our lawyers can have confidence that the discussions between them and the client are being accurately conveyed.
Community Mediation – A positive way to resolve conflicts
We have recently launched, in partnership with LEADR, a mediation program, where clients are offered free mediation services by a LEADR accredited mediator to resolve legal disputes.
LEADR NZ is an independent, non-profit, membership-based organisation. They provide training benchmarked against international standards, as well as advice on conflict resolution to their members and the public, including business, government and legal sectors.
LEADR NZ also serves the community by providing mediators, mediation training, facilitation and dispute system design.
Conflict happens anytime, anywhere. When you no longer know where to turn…
- Mediation can help you gain a fresh perspective and figure out what to do.
- It helps the parties talk it out, work it out
Which disputes are suitable for mediation?
- Family*
- Private sales / consumer disputes
- Animals
- Property
- Neighbours
- Noise
- Fences
- Flat mates
*those not covered by The Courts
Please contact our office if you are interested.
Whāia te mātauranga, kia ora ai tātou katoa. Pursue knowledge so we can all be well.
