South-East Monash Legal Services South-East Monash Legal Services is a Community Legal Centre providing free and confidential legal services to individuals in the south-east region of Melbourne, including the City of Greater Dandenong, Casey, and Cardinia. The firm is dedicated to shaping a fairer future for its community, with a focus on working with vulnerable and disadvantaged community members.
The firm offers a range of legal services, including legal assistance, advocacy, and community programs. They have a particular focus on supporting marginalized communities, including LGBTQIA+ individuals and families, and provide specialized services through their Justice Q program. They also work with victims of crime, providing support and advocacy to help them navigate the justice system.
While South-East Monash Legal Services encourages individuals from the Greater City of Dandenong, City of Casey, and Shire of Cardinia to seek their assistance, they do not have geographical boundaries and can provide services to individuals across Victoria.
The firm has notable expertise in areas such as family violence, reproductive coercion and abuse, and climate justice. They also have a strong focus on advocacy, working to change unjust laws and systems and amplify the voice of their community.
South-East Monash Legal Services offers free interpreter services for individuals who speak a language other than English, ensuring that everyone has access to their services regardless of language barriers. They also provide a
My experience was excellent. Solicitor April was very warm n friendly. She made me feel comfortable and explained everything that I asked very clearly. Highly recommend to come here and get benefit of their services..
Like a lot of things....I think everything hinges on your issue and whom you deal with. (I had GeorgeK assigned). I feel the reception staff and George went above and beyond in every respect to help me with my case. I sit outside the allowed salary bracket for George to represent me....but irrespective of this, he still provided advice and preparation tips (on multiple occasions) that were honest, factual, helpful and empowered me for my position in front of the court (representing myself). Finding George at the time I did was pivotal in my preparation for my court case.
I was lucky enough to represented by two lawyers here. One was on my first court appearance thanks to FASS when i was lost and confused and being pushed around by the opposing counsel and later after some issues with my then lawyer (not from SMLS) my case was taken on by the wonderful and very forgiving Anjali Fernandes. What an amazing hard-working resilient empathic understanding and dedicated human you are!! I honestly have no idea what would of happened without you and your perseverance, you never gave up on me even though so many had. And I gave you plenty of reasons to do so. You didn't. You stood by me through the hardest most scary time in my life and despite the fact that you might of initially thought I was a crazy person (completely understandable given the circumstances) today everything came out in the wash and their true colours were out there for everyone to see. And that's all thank you to you Anj. I know we didn't get the result we wanted but you got me the rainbow with a pot of gold in good time. You will never understand how much you have changed my life. I would of given up and gone into hiding. But you didn't let me and now things are finally looking up. You worked so hard on myself and my child's behalf, you truly are an angel. Thank you so much for not giving up on me. I know I was difficult at times and you stayed to see why. SMLS helped me when they didn't have to and when I was out of options, they saved me. I am ever so grateful both to Anjali and Andrea as well as our fantastic and understanding barrister, Anne Louise. There isn't enough words in this life to express my gratitude, so writing this honest review from first hand experience is all I've got! Thank you xxx
What a waste of my time and the staff lacked empathy or responsibility. As a victim left with damaged property I was told in early December that SM legal services could help me and I was no doubt eligible for representation but I would have to call back in January to schedule an appointment as they were booked out. I waited patiently and when I rang in January I was told they were not organised enough to take appointments yet. One week later a voicemail was left that they were not going to help me. I think the receptionist's name was Sabrina, she was rude and had no customer service at all. She would not provide any explanation and told me to go elsewhere. I would not recommend that you waste your time to be insulted by the staff, they don't care.
3 hour wait only to be told no advice what’s so ever could be given. But only after half an hour or so was spent on obtaining personal information which they refused to give me and told me they had to hold onto it. I got the impression it’s purly for the purposes of obtaining funding. The sole purpose of the “legal service” is to provide training to the legal students, the care factor is 0. Give it a miss complete waist of an evening waiting.
5 Osborne Ave, Springvale VIC 3171, Australia