A FREE legal service pilot program for Canberrans involved in consumer or credit law disputes will be available for a further 12 months at the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT). 

The ACT government has allocated $168,000 in funding to local community organisation CARE Incorporated to operate the Consumer Law Duty Service for 12 months.

This service runs out of the ACAT and provides assistance to unrepresented litigants who bring consumer law disputes to the ACAT.

Care CEO Ms Carmel Franklin said the service improved access to justice for some of the most vulnerable Canberrans by placing independent consumer lawyers at the same location as ACAT.

“This new funding will enable our expert lawyers to continue to be present on site, to provide critical, free legal advice and represent clients before ACAT when necessary,” Ms Franklin said.

The funding comes from interest generated from the sale of uncollected goods under the Uncollected Goods Act 1996. It has been held in the Uncollected Goods Charitable and Social Welfare Fund, which is administered by GreaterGood.

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