A vital part of our role as the peak body for Community Legal Centres in Western Australia is to ensure the work of community legal centres is well understood.   We are also focused on ensuring the benefits of prevention and early intervention, community development and community education and client-informed law reform work is acknowledged by government. A strong and active peak body is required to get that message across and this has been a key part of our role. 

Membership Criteria​

Full membership

Open to any Community Legal Centre incorporated in Western Australia (Rules, para 5.2)  

Associate membership 

Open to organisations, groups or individuals that comply with the Membership Obligations and that operate in Western Australia. (Rules, para 5.3) . Associate members are not entitled to voting rights. 

Members must provide, as an ancillary part of its services, legal services including advice, advocacy, casework, community legal education, law reform, legal policy and other legal services. 

Organisations seeking membership of the Association must also satisfy the following criteria:

• operates in Western Australia;
• is independent of direct control by a Federal or State government, commercial or professional body;
• is incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1987;
• is not for profit;
• agrees to meet the obligations of member organisations (refer to Clause 6 of the Rules);
• provides free or substantially subsidised and accessible legal services; and
• has a community or local authority based Board or Management Committee and encourages community participation in the work and management of the centre.

Membership Obligations

Paragraph 6.1 of the Rules of Association set out the obligations of both full and associate members of the Association.  In brief, members are obliged to adhere to the Association Rules and Objects, promote the aims and interests of full members and pay membership fees and levies. 

In addition, paragraphs 6.2 and 6.3 sets out further obligations upon full members relating to accreditation, the Association's professional indemnity insurance scheme and participation in the business of the Association.

Becoming a Member

To become a member of the Community Legal Centres Association (WA) Inc, telephone Chelsea McKinney, CEO on 9221 9322 for a membership application pack and to discuss next steps.

Rules of the Association