Juanita's Story - Dispute with friends

“Thank you all very much for the long hours spent to help me”

Juanita’s Story

Juanita had an ongoing dispute with a former friend, Noah. She had agreed with Noah to pay for works to be done on Noah’s property so she could place a live in container there, on the understanding that they would live together in the container, and that he would repay her for the container and works if their relationship broke down. Their friendship fell apart, but Noah refused to pay Juanita.

Juanita received extensive assistance and advice from LawRight over the course of about 18 months to help her understand her potential causes of action and the litigation process, and commence and progress Magistrates Court proceedings against Noah. Juanita had difficulty understanding legal concepts and terminology and was not very good at using technology. However, LawRight’s staff, secondee and volunteer lawyers spent many hours patiently advising Juanita in writing and over the phone, making sure to explain each step as clearly as possible and helping Juanita to fix up any mistakes she made.

We helped Juanita request a Magistrates Court settlement conference, and at the settlement conference the parties agreed to settle the matter, with Noah agreeing to let Juanita remove the container from his property and keep it. Juanita said she had tried to avoid going to Court as long as possible, and she was very pleased that the matter was finally over.

Thank you all very much for the long hours spent to help me.

by Tracey Press

Marie's Story - Safety in court

Marie was scared the court process would expose her location to her abusive ex

Marie’s Story

Marie had experienced domestic violence for over 15 years and was unaware she was liable for a $60,000 debt. She didn’t know the creditor and suspected the debt was from a contract her ex-partner had entered into. She was also reluctant to provide bank statements to the creditor, as they might disclose her location to her ex-partner.

LawRight’s pro bono duty barrister negotiated with the creditor’s agent to provide redacted statements and appeared in court to explain why Marie wasn’t complying with the court summons. Marie felt relieved and safe.

by Staff Editor

Ji-Min's Story - Blamed for theft

Months of stress were resolved when our Magistrate’s Court service helped Ji-Min with her debt.

Ji-Min’s Story

The service helped Ji-Min, who hired a car, which was stolen after her locked house was broken into and the car-keys taken. The hire car company started Magistrates Court proceedings for damages, arguing that Ji-Min failed to keep the car locked and the keys secure. She was told “she should have slept with the keys on her” and that if she didn’t propose a payment plan, costs would escalate.

Ji-Min tried to prepare a defence but found the task and process too complicated, so she reached out to LawRight. A pro bono lawyer helped Ji-Min understand the court process and the deficiencies in the statement of claim and assisted her to respond with a settlement offer. This was accepted and the matter was discontinued. This outcome resolved months of stress for Ji-Min and ensured that court resources wouldn’t be wasted.

by Staff Editor

Joseph's Story - Debt threatened bankruptcy

Overwhelmed by personal troubles, Joseph missed deadlines and faced bankruptcy.

Joseph’s Story

Joseph had a defence to the debt claim brought against him in the Magistrates Court, however he wasn’t made aware of the hearing date and a default judgement was made. When the creditor then petitioned for his bankruptcy, Joseph got advice from our Federal Courts office about how to set aside the default judgement but he was so overwhelmed by his money, personal and health troubles that he delayed taking action and a sequestration order was made. LawRight kept helping Joseph and, together with our Magistrates Court pilot service, he prepared evidence of his defence to the default judgement and the sequestration order was overturned on review.

by Staff Editor

Sasha's Story - Online dating scam

Victim of an online dating scam, Sasha was left with an unpayable debt

Sasha’s Story

Sasha believed the man she met on the internet who said he loved her and promised to visit but ‘in the meantime could she help him?’ Some goods were delivered to her that she packaged and sent on. The police were soon involved and told her she’d been scammed but her real distress came when the supplier of the goods commenced court proceedings for almost $20,000. Sasha could only just afford the low-cost home loan she had through a First Nations service, had no other income and many debts. She was worried she would lose her home and felt angry and embarrassed. Sasha sought help from a community support service in Cairns and was connected to LawRight’s on-site service. They connected her to our pilot Magistrate Courts Service. Pro bono lawyers from Brisbane worked with her support workers to help Sasha prepare and file a defence. The plaintiff discontinued the proceedings.

Our Cairns office continued to support this process and in conversation with Sasha learnt her car loan debt was adding to her stress. The loan didn’t meet responsible lending standards and Sasha was again connected to Brisbane lawyers who negotiated a loan refund of $4500 and fairer repayments.

by Staff Editor

Elaine's Story - Single mum harassed by debt collectors

“I dont know how to say it without tears. My life was a struggle… I had no one to turn to”

Elaine’s Story

Elaine is a single mum who lost her job and her housing unexpectedly, had to put her belongings into storage and was using 85% of her income for emergency accommodation. Debt collectors harassed her, and she struggled with basic necessities. LawRight staff and pro bono lawyers helped Elaine resolve over $3,500 worth of debt and had $1,000 of her storage costs waived. LawRight’s financial counsellor helped Elaine enter a fairer plan to repay her fines and she is now safe in public housing. We continue to help her.

Elaine wrote and told us the story in her own words:

“I dont know how to say it without tears. My life was a struggle… I had no one to turn to… I lost my job and got kicked out of the unit with my [child]… We were on the streets. [They] missed school and I was struggling with… panic attacks. Couldnt afford my medications coz the little I had was going into fuel and food for my [child]. I was in the dark trying my best but still couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel until Micah Project got involved. They found us a place and not long after I get a call from LawRight. They well explained what they do and booked us for a longer meeting on the phone. From there my life changed. They helped me with everything that I couldn’t do on my own. They called to see if I was OK and was ready to help me sort my bad situations. Thank you… my [child] and I are living stress free from the work you did for us. I thank you so much and appreciate everything you have done for us. You saved us.”

by Staff Editor

Gigi's Story - In debt to a violent ex

“…thank you and your team sincerely for your professionalism and help with resolving this. It is truly appreciated.”

Gigi’s Story

Queensland and Administrative Tribunal Services

Gigi’s violent ex-partner brought proceedings against her in QCAT for a $20,000 debt. Gigi didn’t dispute the loan, which she had been repaying, but she didn’t accept the additional interest or the requirement to pay the balance of the loan in full.

Her partner, despite being the alleged perpetrator of the violence, had obtained a DVO against Gigi as a form of control. He constantly threatened to report Gigi for breach of the order, so she couldn’t contact him to resolve the dispute.

Pro bono lawyers at a QCAT service appointment helped Gigi draft a response to the minor debt application and a firm decided to provide on- going representation to Gigi. They negotiated with her partner, arranged mediation, a settlement and a no-interest payment plan.

“I would like to thank you and your team sincerely for your professionalism and help with resolving this. It is truly appreciated.”

– Gigi

by Staff Editor

Tara's Story - From crisis to capability

Faced with demands from her landlord, teenage Tara had no trusted adults to turn to

Tara’s Story

From Crisis to Capability

Teenager Tara had no trusted and responsible adults to turn to. When she had to vacate her regional student rental to access treatment and rehabilitation at the Mater, the landlord (who had been advised of her circumstances) demanded additional rent and issued a breach notice. LawRight’s Mater Health Justice Partnership negotiated the withdrawal of the breach notice, waiver of the remaining rent, the return of the bond and the reinstatement of Tara’s clean rental record.

After learning to trust us, Tara disclosed a history of sexual abuse. We helped her apply to Victim Assist and linked her with Mater clinicians to provide trauma support and counselling. Tara reached out to resolve a driving offence and we helped her self- advocate. Her fine was downgraded to a caution.

When Tara was impacted by the 2022 floods and couldn’t access disaster payments, she reached out to LawRight again and we linked her with our Financial Counsellor. Together, they are building Tara’s financial literacy, increasing her resilience and helping Tara access her entitlements.

by Staff Editor

Sam's Story - From homelessness to law student

“I am very pleased with the help I got and am very grateful.”

Sam’s Story

From Homelessness to Law Student

LawRight helped Sam with advice about his fines and helped him to resolve them. When Sam wanted to apply to university, LawRight helped him enrol by drafting statutory declarations explaining his unique circumstances. Since working with LawRight and the Brisbane Youth Service, Sam has commenced studying law and is about to complete the first year of his degree.

“Thanks to the help of LawRight I remain without a criminal record and no outstanding debt. I am very pleased with the help I got and am very grateful.”

– Sam (he consented to his real name being used).

by Staff Editor

Lana's Story - Young victims of violence

Young, pregnant and struggling financially, we supported Lana on her precarious but courageous journey to stability

Lana’s Story

Young Victims of Violence

Lana was pregnant and struggling financially. Pro bono lawyers helped her resolve almost $10,000 of debt and Lana used her new knowledge about her rights to advocate for other credit waivers. Lana then disclosed a history of domestic and other violence and we helped her access financial assistance from Victim Assist.

When Lana gave birth, she was still homeless and at risk of the baby being removed. LawRight collaborated with the youth workers to help Lana safely connect with her family for support and then move into safe independent accommodation. We are still supporting her precarious but courageous journey to stability.

“My young person [Lana] was not able to work towards any of their goals due to the stress imparted by their debts. LawRight supported both myself and the young person to navigate these debts, in addition to other tenancy related matters. “

– Brisbane Youth Service worker

by Staff Editor