Legal Aid Program For Asylum Seekers

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Inc. has launched a new Federal Court Pro Bono Program for asylum seekers.

The Federal Court Pro Bono Program will provide a weekly evening Federal Court Night Service beginning in September 2002 and be supplemented by an Asylum Seekers Lawyers Network.

The ASRC through its contact with over 2000 asylum seekers in the past year says it recognises an urgent need for a legal service to advise asylum seekers whose cases have been unsuccessful at the Refugee Review Tribunal. Often asylum seekers need advice on appealing the Refugee Review Tribunal’s decision to the Federal Court.

ASRC says it has found that the majority of asylum seekers in Victoria are going unadvised and unrepresented before the Federal Court, despite their very liberty and life often being at stake.

ASRC believes that these needs can be addressed to a significant extent by a formalised Federal Court Asylum Seeker Legal Service in Victoria.

It hopes that the service will complement and supplement existing services which provide some representation in the Federal Court, such as the Bar’s Legal Assistance Scheme, PILCH and the Federal Court’s Order 80 Scheme.

ASRC says the service will NOT overlap or disturb the high standard of immigration assistance offered by the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre and Victoria Legal Aid. Nor overlap the legal work of the ASRC in respect of other visa applications.

If you are interested in being involved please send us an e-mail to probono@probonoaustralia.com.au for a Federal Court Pro Bono Program Kit that contains:

* info about the program
* dates of upcoming volunteer info nights
* volunteer application form
* dates for Refugee Law Orientation Course

Additional Federal Court Pro Bono Kits are available by calling the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre on 96895075.