The Illawarra Legal Centre Inc. opened its doors in Warrawong, south of Wollongong, in 1985 as a direct result of community action and support.
The Centre’s sole staff member, a part-time solicitor, was assisted by a local solicitor to develop our inaugural advice roster. This enabled us to provide FREE legal advice to the local community, and in particular, to those who had little hope of accessing affordable legal help.
The ILC is now one of around 200 independent, non-profit community organisations across Australia, all of whom are members of the National Association of Community Legal Centres. All offer free legal services including referral, advice and assistance to more than 350,000 people each year.
The Centre has grown substantially since 1985 but its primary focus remains on helping those living with disadvantage and marginalisation.