• About Us
    • Patron
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Annual Reports
  • Services
    • General Legal Advice
    • Civil Litigation
    • Criminal Law
    • Employment Law
    • Family Law & Child Support
    • Family Violence
    • Community Development
    • Sexual Assault
    • Legal Education
  • Get Involved
    • Employment
    • Volunteers
    • Become a member
    • Donate
  • Publications
  • Contact Us
Springvale Monash Legal Service Inc
  • About Us
    • Patron
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Annual Reports
  • Services
    • General Legal Advice
    • Civil Litigation
    • Criminal Law
    • Employment Law
    • Family Law & Child Support
    • Family Violence
    • Community Development
    • Sexual Assault
    • Legal Education
  • Get Involved
    • Employment
    • Volunteers
    • Become a member
    • Donate
  • Publications
  • Contact Us

About

Since its inception, the philosophy of SMLS has always been the provision of accessible and comprehensive legal information and assistance as well as community legal education to disadvantaged members of the community. SMLS provides members of the community with the means, which may otherwise be unavailable to them, to become informed about their legal rights and how to enforce them.

SMLS aims to empower and support members of the community to understand and make use of the law and the legal system to protect their rights and to increase their awareness of their legal responsibilities. A high proportion of our clients are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and have limited access to the legal system due to language barriers, lack of formal education and financial disadvantage. To ensure that these clients receive the fairest outcome possible, their matters may be taken on by the legal service. This does not in any way detract from our ethos of maximising the community’s ability to assist themselves.

SMLS is located in Springvale, within the City of Greater Dandenong. The vast majority of our clients live or work within this municipality, however there are no geographical restrictions to our service and people from anywhere in Victoria are eligible to seek assistance from us. The needs of the people within our community, and indeed the community itself, are ceaselessly changing, necessitating that we constantly adapt to meet those needs, to ensure the ongoing provision of exceptional legal service.

 

History

Springvale Monash Legal Service has served the legal needs of the community since 1973. The legal service owes its existence to the passion and innovation of Monash University law students and academics, who identified and sought to redress the imbalances in access to legal advice and assistance to members of the community.

In 1971, Monash Law students commenced a telephone referral service called the Monash Student Legal Referral Service from the Melbourne Citizens Advice Bureau in Russell Street, Melbourne. The service operated as an access point, directing callers to appropriate sources of assistance. In 1972, Monash Law students went one step further, beginning another service at the Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau, where students interviewed clients face to face. The service provided legal advice and referrals for clients, as well as letter writing, negotiation and representation.

Springvale Legal Service (SLS), as it was then known, was launched on 27 February 1973. Later that year, the Law Faculty at Monash University proposed the establishment of a Professional Practice Unit, to be run at the legal service. Professional Practice became part of the curriculum in July 1975, thereby cementing the exciting relationship between legal education and legal service delivery at SLS. The close relationship between the legal service and Monash University was further strengthened in July 1987, when the service changed its name to Springvale Monash Legal Service.

Legal Advice Sessions

Hours of Operation
9.00 am – 5.00 pm (Monday to Friday)

Drop In Sessions
9.30 am  (Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday)
6.00 pm  (Monday)
7.00 pm  (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday)

Employment Law Clinic
By Appointment only:
Monday 9.30 am – 12.30 pm

OUTREACH PROGRAMS:

Monash Health Clinic (2 locations)
By appointment (for a confirmed date/time) or drop-in:
– Monash Health Community Service Hub (122 Thomas St Dandenong): Wed from 9am – 1pm
– Cranbourne Integrated Care Centre (140-154 Sladen St Cranbourne): Thu from 9am – 1pm

Autumn Place Community Hub (29 Autumn Place, Doveton)

By Appointment only – Friday 9.15 am – 12.15 pm

Call our Narre Warren branch on 9038 8002 to make an appointment.

Pakenham Library (Cnr John Street & Henry Street, Pakenham)

By Appointment only – Friday 9.15 am – 12.15 pm

Call our Narre Warren branch on 9038 8002 to make an appointment.

Information

SMLS was proud to launch our Sporting Change Evaluation Report on Monday 29 April 2019 at Bunjil Place, Narre Warren.

The full report may be viewed on our Publications page.

 

Please note, drop in sessions operate on a ‘first come first seen’ basis and numbers for each session are limited. Clients are therefore advised to arrive very early to maximize their chance of being seen.

Session times are subject to change. Please call 9545 7400 for more details.

 

 

 

Contact Us

5, Osborne Avenue
Springvale,
VIC 3171
Australia
Phone: (03) 9545 7400
Fax:
Email: info@smls.org.au

Copyright 2016 Springvale Monash Legal Service Inc