The new video-link telephones offer clients who may not be able to get to the commission’s offices in the city to link up to one of 14 networks across the state.

The video phones will be set up in private rooms in community centers and allow clients to book in a time to speak face-to-face with a Legal Aid lawyer. 

Already, three trial video telephones based at New Norfolk, Nubeena and Geeveston in the state’s south have received positive feedback from both communities and organisations. 

Over the next six months, the 11 remaining video telephones will be rolled out to regional communities, including on the East and West coasts and on Flinders and King islands.

Legal Aid Commission advice and legal services manager Susie Winter said so far, the response to the new service had been enthusiastic, especially in helping those struggling with domestic violence. 

“It is a big step forward, it’s part of our early intervention push in relation to going out into the community and integrating in the community rather than requiring them to come to us,” Ms Winter said. 

“We do have telephone advice services and our website, but there are obstacles for people – transport, access to good internet.

“It’s all very well to be on the other end of a phone but a lot of people do prefer face-to-face and they do like to talk to you about documentation, they like to show you things.” 

She said the new telephones would also work to increase community awareness of the Legal Aid Commission and how it works to assist members of regional communities.

“Effectively, along with our four main offices in Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie, we will add 14 offices to Legal Aid,” Ms Winter said.

Legal Aid Commission lawyer Danielle McKee said the idea behind the program was to increase access to justice for anyone living in rural and remote communities across the state. 

“It’s very difficult for people to access even some initial legal advice and assistance if they can’t actually get into one of our offices,” Ms McKee said. 

“Being able to look at the lawyer that they’re speaking to makes it feel much less intimidating.

“We’re really committed to ensuring all Tasmanians have access to justice and this just gives us another platform to do that.”