At Monash Law Clinics we believe access to quality legal advice shouldn't be confined to those who can afford it. For almost 50 years our community legal centres have changed the lives of clients, law students and the wider community.

In Australia, many people are unable to access justice due to high legal fees, asylum seeker or refugee status and other socio-economic barriers. While Government funded legal aid is available, these services turn away 160,000 people every year because they lack the capacity and funding to meet overwhelming demand. Added to this is the inadequate number of practitioners with the capacity to provide legal aid and the tightening of government criteria under which clients can access assistance. The result is a growing number of people falling through the gap.

Monash Law Clinics aims to help people who are unable to afford private legal assistance and representation or are unable to obtain access to the legal system because of language barriers or other disadvantages. We are committed to demystifying the law and empowering clients with a better understanding of the legal system.

Monash Law Clinics is a community legal centre supported by the State and Federal Governments and the Faculty of Law, Monash University. The expansion of Monash Law Clinics in the Melbourne CBD, Clayton, and in partnership with South-East Monash Legal Service underscores the commitment of Monash Law to assisting vulnerable members of our community, whilst educating our students in practical, ethical and professional legal practice. Clients’ matters are run by Monash Law students who work under the close supervision of qualified solicitors. These students are exposed to the operation of the law and the legal system in their social context. They learn the importance of people, facts and evidence, and the impact that various factors, including access to legal representation, can have on an individual's ability to attain a just outcome.