About

• to provide advice, assistance and support to people in the North and North West region of New South Wales who have least access to the legal system and the least power to help themselves
• to provide our services in a manner that increases people’s understanding of the law and their legal rights
• to deliver these services in a way that respects each individual

• to provide community education with the aim of increasing people’s knowledge and understanding of the law and their legal rights
• to be responsive to the needs of the community we serve

• to increase access to the legal system and policy development for people from traditionally disadvantaged sectors of the population
• to help clients to be better informed of their legal and social rights and responsibilities and the options available to them
• to refer clients to other legal and non-legal services when our services are not able to assist them with their issue

• to work towards a more just, equitable and accessible society for all people
• to ensure staff in our services will maintain high standards of professional conduct and service

The North and North West Community Legal Service was officially opened by Rt Hon Ian Sinclair in Armidale on 22 April 1996.

The Service began in April 1993 when Jennifer Crew began the Armidale Community Legal Service run solely by volunteer solicitors.

In 1995 Jennifer Crew, Ted Wright and Rhonda Weinand began research and consultation with the community to establish the need for a funded Community Legal Centre to service the whole New England and North West regions of NSW. The resulting submission to the Commonwealth Government was successful and the North and North West Community Legal Service was created.

In April 2002 the Service became the auspice for the Northern Regional Tenant Resource Service (NRTRS) and in October 2002 became the auspice for the New England and Western Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (NEWTAAS). The sudden growth in the Service required it to relocate from shared accommodation in the Armidale Neighbourhood Centre to its own premises in the Minto Building.

It also opened offices in Dubbo and Broken Hill for the tenancy service, both co-located with the Community Legal Centres in those cities.

From July 2004 to September 2005, the Service took on the temporary auspice of the Western Aboriginal Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, with offices in Dubbo, Broken Hill and Bourke. In April 2005, the Service became the auspice for the Community Cottage.

In September 2005, the Western Aboriginal TAAS was handed over to an Aboriginal organisation, Murdi Paaki Region Enterprise to auspice, and in January 2006, the Northern Regional Tenant Resources Service self-incorporated to become an independent organisation.

In May 2007, the North and North West Community Legal Service re-located to new premises in a more central position in the Armidale CBD, closer to the Court House.

In March 2013, the service was officially recognised under the National Accreditation Scheme as providing Community Legal Services in conformity with the requirements of the NACLC Accreditation Criteria for Community Legal Centres and the NACLC Certification Rules.

Community Legal Centres and independently operating not-for-profit community organisations that provides legal and related services to the public, focusing on the disadvantaged and people with special needs.

The NSW State Association Website – http://www.nswclc.org.au/
The National Association Website – http://www.naclc.org.au/