Relieving some of the legal burdens on clients : legal aid services working alongside psychologists and other health and social service professionals

Abstract

In this paper, I discuss key research from the United Kingdom and some of the more limited research undertaken in Australia. English research and some national research has recently revealed that people are often unaware that their problem is legal in nature and that often the health and social services that may be the client/patient’s first ‘port of call’ are not identifying problems as legal. This means that particularly disadvantaged community members are not finding appropriate assistance. A significant impediment for vulnerable and disadvantaged people accessing the legal system is the cumulative nature of problems and often their lack of knowledge and confidence in seeking assistance from lawyers. The recent research in the United Kingdom also suggests that vulnerable and marginalised people have so many problems to deal with that they are overwhelmed. Unresolved legal problems are also linked to poor health in this research. Pressing health or social welfare problems gain a response but legal needs may never get examined or will only be revealed when they have escalated. In addition to highlighting key aspects of this research this article will also discuss a holistic model of health and legal services working collaboratively with tertiary education in West Heidelberg, Victoria Australia. This model serves to demonstrate how through colocation and multi-disciplinary approaches, legal social and health professionals can work together to ensure that clients/patients are more likely to have their legal problems addressed. Communication and networking between legal aid services and other health and social service providers can overcome the difficulties indicated in the research in terms of people’s access to justice and legal services.