About us

Our vision

Kingsford Legal Centre works for a fair, just, and equal legal system and society. A system where lawyers are educated to be ethical and have an understanding of the needs and impact of the law on our community members who experience inequity and injustice.

About Kingsford Legal Centre

Kingsford Legal Centre has been providing quality legal services to south-eastern Sydney community members since July 1981. As an accredited legal centre with the Community Legal Centres Australia and a member of Community Legal Centres NSW, KLC is one of over 40 community legal centres committed to providing equitable and accessible legal services within New South Wales.

Kingsford Legal Centre is part of the UNSW Sydney Faculty of Law & Justice and provides a number of clinical legal education programs to its students. KLC's lawyers, volunteers and students help over 1,500 local community members each year with problems such as domestic violence, discrimination, housing, employment, criminal law, credit and debt, fines and victim’s compensation.

Kingsford Legal Centre is funded by UNSW Sydney Faculty of Law & Justice and the Australian Government, NSW Government and the Public Purpose Fund through the Community Legal Centres Program administered by Legal Aid NSW. Income is also received as one-off grants from other funding bodies and generous donations from a range of individuals and organisations. Please see the latest Annual Report for further details.

Our values

• We are ethical, respectful, informed and committed to achieving equality and social justice for our community.
• We believe in educating lawyers to respect and understand the needs of the vulnerable communities we serve.

Our purpose

• We work to increase access to justice for people experiencing disadvantage.
• We advocate around the values of social justice and human rights.
• We collaborate and work in partnership with our community.
• We deliver high quality legal services and community legal education.
• We argue for systemic change that increases fairness for disadvantaged people.
• We teach UNSW Law & Justice students by providing them with real world opportunities to improve the lives of people and communities.

Our theory of change

• Kingsford Legal Centre believes that a fairer legal system means removing barriers to justice especially for people who experience disadvantage.
• We believe that a fairer legal system requires systemic change to achieve social justice and protect human rights.
• We recognise the impact of colonisation and racism on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s interaction with justice systems as well as the ways in which gender discrimination and intersectional experience impacts on people’s access to justice.

No Room for Racism at Kingsford Legal Centre

Kingsford Legal Centre rejects all forms of racial and religious discrimination, harassment or vilification and is committed to the elimination of this behaviour in all aspects of the UNSW community.  Racial or religious discrimination, harassment or vilification of students, staff, students, volunteers or visitors will not be tolerated.

Racism threatens the safety and wellbeing of the UNSW community. Tackling and preventing racism is everyone’s responsibility. 

Recognising, challenging, preventing, and responding to racism, harassment, and discrimination is underpinned by an action-oriented commitment, enabling UNSW student and staff personal development, reflective practice and encouraging enhanced individual and collective responsibility for determined action. 

Anti-racist action requires all members of a community to challenge racism in all its forms and report racist incidents. It requires positive demonstration through behaviours and the respect we show others.