LEGAL
The Gold Coast Legal Service (formerly Highway Legal Service) is the only Community Legal Centre situated on the Gold Coast. The Highway Legal Service was started by a group of volunteer solicitors who offered their time to provide free legal advice at night. Due to location issues the service later merged with Citizens Advice Bureau and shortly after funding was received from federal and state governments, this enabled the service to grow and full time staff were employed. In 2007 the name was changed to Gold Coast Legal Service to keep in line with the services we offer to the Gold Coast community.
Our qualified staff provide FREE advice to individuals via face to face appointments, we do not undertake court representation, however we will provide you with advice about your legal rights and give you information about any legal avenues that may be open to you. Our service is not means-tested and provides advice to private individuals across a wide spectrum of legal issues, some of which are as follows:
Areas of law we advise on include the following:
- Family Law, especially issues to do with living arrangements for children, child support issues, domestic violence, advice and assistance with parenting plans, separation and divorce matters.
- Consumer complaints including actions by debt collectors and finance companies
- Motor vehicle collisions (not including any injury issues)
- Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal matters
- Neighbourhood disputes such as dividing fences, trees and noise issues
- Minor criminal matters such as drink driving and points demerit issues
- Employment law, such as unfair or unlawful dismissals
- Less complex succession law matters, including advice on time limits for challenging wills
Areas of law we cannot advise on:
- Commercial & Business matters, such as disputes between small traders
- Conveyancing
- Personal Injuries
- Class Actions
- Criminal representation in court
- Legal matters in other states and countries
- The actual preparation of wills and powers of attorneys
- Defamation
