Young Lawyers Face Overwhelming Demand in Domestic Violence Crisis

Community lawyers across Australia are working long hours with limited pay to address the growing domestic and family violence crisis. The work is described as 'confronting' and 'overwhelming' by those on the front lines.

Biftu Reggasa Tulu, a 26-year-old lawyer based in Geelong, is part of a new group of emerging legal professionals being deployed to regional centers to help meet the urgent demand for legal services.

Legal centers nationwide report that domestic and family violence cases now make up 40 to 50 percent of their workload, with the proportion rising to 75 percent in rural and remote areas. Cases are becoming increasingly complex, with victims also seeking help for housing, financial abuse, mental health, and interactions with the criminal justice system.

Sarah Dahlenburg, principal solicitor of the NSW Mid-North Coast Legal Centre, said the system is 'at breaking point' and that centers are often forced into crisis management due to overwhelming demand. She noted that even doubling the size of legal centers would not be enough to meet the legal needs of victims.

Legal professionals in remote areas face additional challenges, including long and costly travel to reach clients. In the Northern Territory, a small team of lawyers covers an area more than three times the size of Victoria, often at great financial expense.

The sector is advocating for a HECS-HELP debt forgiveness scheme for lawyers working in regional and remote areas, a recommendation from a 2024 review. However, the government has not expanded debt relief for these roles and has instead pointed to a separate review scheduled for 2028.