The ACT Law Society has renewed pressure on the federal government to reverse harsh cuts to the legal aid sector to ensure continued access to justice for vulnerable and disadvantaged Canberrans.
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President Sarah Avery called for ongoing funding for community lawyers on Friday as Attorney-General George Brandis launched the ACT Women's Legal Centre's domestic violence program, to help victims navigate the family law system.
The federal government signalled nationwide cuts of 30 per cent, or about $34 million, from the sector's core funding over three years from next July, a move that could restrict legal help for domestic violence victims and Indigenous Australians.
Ms Avery said the legal aid sector was reliant on funding and services from governments, members of the legal profession, philanthropic grants and law societies to continue to provide free legal advice and representation to those who couldn't afford it.
"The legal profession has always been very active in ensuring people grappling with social and legal problems are competently represented and, very importantly, that they are treated in a way that upholds their dignity and their rights."
But Ms Avery said, while the society supported pro bono work among lawyers and provided some funds to legal aid and community legal centres, its budget only stretched so far.
"They'll get everything we can give, but they'll be getting far less than they need," she said.
"That's why it is imperative that the Commonwealth government provides adequate funding for legal aid, community legal centres and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal centres."
She implored Senator Brandis: "Please, do everything you can to ensure that there's proper funding for legal assistance in the 2017 budget.
"I cannot overestimate or overstate the value of the work that community legal centres like the Women's Legal Centre has."
Ms Avery said she was among the heads of eight Australian peak legal bodies, representing about 60,000 solicitors, who had written to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull urging he rethink the impending cuts earlier this month.
Under the planned cuts, about $315,000 in federal funding would be shaved from Canberra's community legal centres.
Senator Brandis said the government would provide $350,000 to the Women's Legal Centre's domestic violence program each year for four years under the government's $100 million family safety package.
"This program helps women who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic violence by giving them critical legal, social and other support like financial counselling," he said.
"By working with its partners to manage each woman's case, the program co-ordinates a joint response that empowers women to safely access the range of services they need."
Women's Legal Centre executive director Elena Rosenman said the program had been designed to fill gaps in existing services in the ACT and aimed to provide advice and representation support to women post-crisis.
Staff had helped about 65 women since the initiative began as a pilot program several months ago, she said.
Friday's launch coincided with White Ribbon Day, an international day of awareness to eliminate violence against women.
