Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC)

Who We Are
- About us
  About us
  Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) provides free legal assistance to people who live, work and study in Melbourne’s east. ECLC actively engages in law reform, and undertakes community development to educate and empower the community.
- Our history
  Our history
  Since 1974, ECLC has assisted thousands of people to understand and access the legal system.
- Staff
  Staff
  ECLC has a highly professional and passionate team of employed staff and over 100 dedicated volunteers.
- Board
  Board
  ECLC’s Board oversees the development, growth and financial responsibilities of the Centre.
- Annual Reports
  Annual Reports
  ECLC Annual Reports highlight what ECLC has achieved in the financial reporting year.
- Strategic Plan 2025-2030
  Strategic Plan 2025-2030
  ECLC’s strategic plans set the priorities and the focus for the years ahead to help employees and other stakeholders work toward common goals that will ensure ECLC continues to deliver essential free legal and other services to communities in Melbourne’s east.
- Code of conduct
  Code of conduct
  ECLC’s Code of Conduct ensures and encourages the highest qualities of integrity and behaviour across the organisation. It applies to all members, volunteers, board members and staff of ECLC.
- Public policies
  Public policies
  ECLC staff and volunteers must comply with the law and ECLC policies and procedures that protect the rights of ECLC clients.
- Our commitment to child safety
  Our commitment to child safety
  ECLC is committed to providing services and working environments that protect all children from harm and that promote their wellbeing.
What We Do
- Legal services
  Legal services
  ECLC provides free legal advice and assistance for a broad range of issues, including family violence, neighbourhood disputes, debt and civil matters.
- Community Legal Education
  Community Legal Education
  ECLC provides compassionate, culturally sensitive and non-judgmental legal education for organisations and community groups.
- Integrated Practice
  Integrated Practice
- Law reform & policy
  Law reform & policy
  ECLC’s policy and law reform work advocates for improvements to the legal system and challenges unfair laws and practices.
- Partnerships and projects
  Partnerships and projects
  ECLC partners with volunteers, law firms, community agencies and government bodies to deliver a dynamic range of projects.
- Professional development
  Professional development
  ECLC provides Professional Development for paid and volunteer staff on a range of topics.
Get Help
- How ECLC can help
  How ECLC can help
  Legal issues we can assist with – Interpreters – Cancelling an Appointment – Our Client Charter
- Appointment Request Form
  Appointment Request Form
  Free legal help – complete Online Intake Form
- Legal advice & casework
  Legal advice & casework
  ECLC offers free legal advice and some ongoing assistance (casework) for a range of legal matters.
- Legal programs
  Legal programs
  ECLC’s legal programs provide advice, advocacy and support to people on specific legal matters, such as elder abuse, family violence and issues experienced by students and graduates.
  - Intervention order support services
    Intervention order support services
  - Deakin Student Legal Service
    Deakin Student Legal Service
  - Elder Abuse
    Elder Abuse
- Where else to get help
  Where else to get help
  Generalist, specialist and other legal and community services.
- Frequently asked questions
  Frequently asked questions
  Answers to frequently asked questions.
Our Community
- Our catchment
  Our catchment
  ECLC works with communities and community members living in Boroondara, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges and provides free legal and other services to people living in this region from three office locations and other outreach locations.
- Priority communities
  Priority communities
  ECLC prioritises its services to certain community groups and aims to address the causes of the disadvantage they experience.
- Our partners
  Our partners
  ECLC partners with a broad range of organisations to fund, support and deliver services for the community.
- Local government
  Local government
  ECLC mostly provides legal services to people living in the local government areas of Boroondara, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Whitehorse and the Yarra Ranges.
Get Involved
- Careers
  Careers
  Work for a dynamic and growing not-for-profit organisation that values and empowers its people and strives for Human Rights, Fairness, and Justice.
- Volunteering
  Volunteering
  Become a volunteer and join the ECLC team. The very generous assistance and time given by all of ECLC’s volunteers enable it to provide the range of free essential legal and other services needed by communities in the eastern region of Melbourne.
- Membership
  Membership
  Become a member of ECLC which is a community-based organisation, with a strong and active membership base. People who live, work or study in ECLC’s catchment area are eligible to apply for membership.
- Donate
  Donate
  Make a tax-deductible donation using a secure online portal to help ECLC continue to provide essential free legal and other services to communities in the eastern region of Melbourne.
- Client satisfaction survey
  Client satisfaction survey
  Tell ECLC how satisfied you are with its services by completing its client satisfaction survey. The survey has 15 questions which will take you about 10 minutes to complete. Your response is confidential and will not affect your right to use ECLC services.
News & media
- Join our mailing list
  Join our mailing list
  Subscribe to ECLC’s regular (generally monthly) e-News which provides updates on ECLC’s latest initiatives and news from the community.
- News & media
  News & media
  Read the latest news and announcements from ECLC.
- Media Coverage
  Media Coverage
- Resources
  Resources
  ECLC’s resources provide information on a range of legal issues.
- Client stories
  Client stories
  Client stories are real stories that show others how ECLC helps its clients. All client stories are anonymous and have no identifying information. Names and details have been changed to protect client confidentiality.

ECLC CEO, Michael Smith appointed to Respect Victoria Board

After more than 20 years, our Boronia office has closed. Read more here.

Free info sessions to understand Wills & Powers of Attorney

Evening appointments
are now available

New video commemorating 10 years of Mabels. Click here to view!

'Getting in Early' - ECLC's 2025 Annual Report

Have you seen ECLC's 2025-2030 Strategic Plan? Click here to see more.

ECLC continues to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart & The Voice to Parliament

Find your nearest Community Legal Centre

FREE Legal Help

Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) provides free and confidential legal help to communities and community members living in Melbourne's East.

To make an appointment - click here

January 1, 2022

Deakin Student Legal Service

Deakin Student Legal Service (DSLS) provides free and confidential legal advice, information, referral and education to students enrolled at Deakin University. Legal advice is provided by qualified lawyers onsite at the Deakin University Student Association (DUSA) offices at the Burwood, ...

May 15, 2023

ECLC’s Enhanced Intake & Triage – Multidisciplinary teams supporting access to tailored legal help.

ECLC_Enhanced Intake Triage_ Framework

June 21, 2022

Amplifying Community Voices in the East

Image showing: ECLC CEO Michael Smith, Communities Council on Ethnic Issues Community Representative Saarah Ozeer, Centre for Holistic Health Service Coordinator Ada Poon, Communities Council on Ethnic Issues Community Representative Dilnaz Billimoria, Indiancare Manager Dr Jyothsna Rao, ECLC ...

About ECLC

How ECLC can help

Find your nearest Community Legal Centre

FREE Legal Help

Deakin Student Legal Service

ECLC’s Enhanced Intake & Triage – Multidisciplinary teams supporting access to tailored legal help.

Amplifying Community Voices in the East