Law and Advocacy Centre for Women

What Law and Advocacy Centre for Women does

The Law and Advocacy Centre for Women (LACW) is an Australian non-profit community legal centre incorporated in Victoria in 2015 as Law and Advocacy Centre for Women Ltd. It provides specialist criminal defence and ancillary legal services exclusively to women who are in, or at risk of entering, the criminal justice system in Victoria. Its core service offering comprises criminal defence advocacy, bail applications, family violence intervention orders, Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme (formerly VOCAT) applications, infringements and fines, and child protection work. These services are delivered free of charge to eligible clients, with priority access directed to women at greatest risk of harm from family violence, homelessness, or to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

LACW's operating model integrates legal representation with on-site holistic case management led by a qualified social worker (Integrated Practice Manager) and case management staff, alongside supervised placements from RMIT's Work Integrated Learning program. The organisation holds deductible gift recipient (charity) status and is funded primarily via government grants (including from the Victorian Legal Services Board and the Victorian Government Department of Justice and Community Safety / Community Crime Prevention), with supplementary donations routed through Give Now and proceeds from annual Justice Dinners fundraising events. It is governed by a four-member board supplemented by a three-member steering committee, and is supported by pro bono partners (Meridian Lawyers) and referral partners (Women's Legal Service Victoria, Djirra, Fitzroy Legal Service, Flat Out, and the Centre for Innovative Justice at RMIT).

Service delivery is concentrated in metropolitan Melbourne — operating from RMIT Building 97, Carlton — with pilots extending coverage into regional Victoria (Swan Hill and Mildura) funded by the Victorian Legal Services Board. LACW also runs the SupPORT Pathways Project (in partnership with the Victorian Amateur Football Association) for post-contact reintegration through community sport, and previously delivered the Women Transforming Justice project (2018–2020). The organisation has no proprietary technology platform beyond standard legal practice management tooling, and its technology footprint is not a feature of its service offering or go-to-market. In May 2024, founder Jill Prior OAM was appointed to the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, with Ellen Murphy succeeding her as Principal Legal Officer and Laura Heffes joining as inaugural Director of Policy and Strategic Advocacy in July 2024, signalling an institutional pivot toward systemic advocacy alongside direct legal services.

Name

Law and Advocacy Centre for Women

Legal name

Law and Advocacy Centre for Women Ltd

Website

https://lacw.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Law and Advocacy Centre for Women (LACW) is a Victorian community legal centre providing free specialist criminal defence, bail, family violence intervention order, VOCAT, and child protection legal services to women in or at risk of entering the criminal justice system, integrated with holistic case management and supported by government grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlton

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Core operational funding from government sources to operate as a community legal centre providing free legal services.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The Law and Advocacy Centre for Women is a registered charity with tax deductible gift status. Receives donations through Give Now platform and hosts annual Justice Dinners as major fundraising events.
3. Volunteer and Student Placements: Formal arrangement with RMIT University for student placements through Work Integrated Learning program. Limited opportunities for other volunteers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

LACW is a community legal centre in Victoria providing free specialist criminal defence legal services to women in or at risk of entering the criminal legal system. Its core offering combines criminal defence advocacy, bail applications, family violence intervention orders, victims of crime financial assistance (VOCAT), infringements and fines support, and child protection legal services, delivered alongside holistic case management and therapeutic engagement.

Product overview

LACW is a community legal centre providing a unified suite of specialist legal and support services for women in Victoria facing criminal justice issues. The core offering combines criminal defence advocacy, bail applications, family violence intervention orders, victims of crime assistance, and fines/infringement support. These services are delivered alongside case management programs including the Pathways out of the Justice System, integrated holistic support, the SupPORT Pathways Project connecting women with football clubs, and the Women Transforming Justice advocacy program. All services are free to those who cannot pay and focus on early intervention to prevent women's trajectory into the criminal legal system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Criminal Defence Advocacy Legal advice and representation in criminal matters across the Magistrates' Court and higher jurisdictions, including charges relating to dishonesty, assault, drug use, breaches of court orders and driving. Provided free to women who cannot pay, with priority for women at greatest risk due to family violence, homelessness, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status.
• Bail Applications Legal assistance in applying for bail or varying bail conditions, with support from service providers to help clients access necessary support services to remain in the community.
• Family Violence Intervention Orders Legal assistance in relation to family violence intervention orders for clients who have another legal matter with LACW, are respondents to an order, or have associated criminal charges.
• Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme (VOCAT) Assistance in making applications to the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal, including preparing paperwork and appearing as an advocate in VOCAT hearings to help victims access financial compensation.
• Infringements and Fines Legal assistance in identifying options for accumulated fines and infringement notices, including applications under the Family Violence scheme and special circumstances applications.
• Child Protection Legal services related to child protection matters for women involved in the criminal justice system.
• Pathways out of the Justice System Program Early intervention legal and case management support for women at risk of criminalisation who are not eligible for legal aid funding due to the nature of their charges or lack of prior criminal history.
• Pathways out of the Justice System for Women in Regional Victoria Pilot program in Swan Hill and Mildura providing legal advice and representation to women in regional areas facing criminal charges who are otherwise ineligible for legal assistance, with planned expansion to other regional locations.
• Integrated Services and Holistic Support Integrated practice with case management team working alongside lawyers to support clients in accessing services, led by a qualified Social Worker with experience working with criminalised women.
• Women's SupPORT Pathways Project Program connecting women with lived experience of the criminal justice system with community football clubs, providing opportunities for playing, volunteering, coaching, umpiring, and committee participation. Funded by the Victorian Government Community Crime Prevention.
• Women Transforming Justice Project Project (2018-2020) delivered with Fitzroy Legal Service and Flat Out Inc, providing an innovative response to women's incarceration through Women's Leadership Group facilitation, integrated Court Support Program development, and advocacy for systemic reform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Early intervention legal and case management support for women not eligible for legal aid funding
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Meridian LawyersminorOthers · 1 January 2024Pro bono placement arrangement providing Rosemary Blanden for legal work at LACW.
• The TorchminorOthers · 1 January 2022Not-for-profit organisation providing art, cultural and arts industry support to Indigenous people with experience of the criminal legal system. LACW licenses the Healing Garden artwork through The Torch.
• Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership for the SupPORT Pathways Project connecting women with lived experience of the criminal justice system to community football clubs. VAFA provides support for the project.
• Centre for Innovative Justice (RMIT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Ongoing collaboration on integrated service delivery. Hosts Social Work students for placements. Joint submission on homelessness in Victoria (April 2020). Evaluated the Women Transforming Justice project.
• Women's Legal Service VictoriaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Referral partner for family violence intervention order cases where LACW cannot assist. Referrals flow to appropriate community legal services based on client needs.
• DjirraminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Referral partner for family violence and family law matters. Co-founder Jill Prior previously worked at Djirra (formerly Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Victoria).
• Fitzroy Legal ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner in Women Transforming Justice project (2018-2020) providing innovative response to rising women's incarceration rates through Women's Leadership Group and integrated Court Support Program.
• Flat Out InccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner in Women Transforming Justice project (2018-2020) alongside LACW and Fitzroy Legal Service, focusing on advocacy for systemic reform and service delivery for criminalised women.
• Arnold Bloch LeiblerminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Law firm co-hosted International Women's Day 2017 event with LACW and Human Rights Law Centre. Provided venue and support for IWD luncheon.
• Human Rights Law CentreminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Co-hosted International Women's Day 2017 event with LACW and Arnold Bloch Leibler. Justice system biases article featured in Lawyers Weekly (August 2020).
• Women's Health WestminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Co-hosted International Women's Day 2017 breakfast event where LACW Principal Jill Prior was a panelist.
• RMIT UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Formal arrangement for student placements through RMIT's Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program. Collaboration with Centre for Innovative Justice at RMIT for hosting Social Work students on practical and research placements focused on integrated service delivery.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Women's Legal Service Victoria: Community legal centre providing free legal services to women in Victoria, with overlapping referral pathways and shared focus on family violence and intervention orders. Directly comparable in mission and client base to LACW.
• WestJustice: Western Melbourne community legal centre providing free legal services including criminal law, family violence and family law. LACW Managing Senior Lawyer Ashlee McPhail began as a volunteer at WestJustice — directly comparable in operating model and service mix.
• Flat Out Inc: Victorian advocacy and support service for women involved in the criminal justice system, particularly post-release. Direct peer as a co-partner on the Women Transforming Justice project with shared client base and overlapping advocacy mandate.
• Djirra (Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Victoria): Specialist Aboriginal legal service providing family violence and criminal law support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Victoria. LACW's co-founder Jill Prior previously led Djirra, and the organisations share referral flows and a criminal-law/family-violence intersection.
• Fitzroy Legal Service: Inner-Melbourne community legal centre and Women Transforming Justice project partner with LACW. Comparable community-led legal services model serving criminalised and marginalised Victorians with similar funding and case-mix dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• Justice Connect: National not-for-profit legal service operating Homeless Law and other programs; Laura Heffes previously practised at Justice Connect Homeless Law as a criminal defence lawyer. Comparable as a not-for-profit delivering free legal services to disadvantaged populations with a similar funding model.
• Victoria Legal Aid: State-government legal aid commission providing broad criminal defence and family law services, including the Indictable Crime team from which LACW's leaders (Ellen Murphy, Laura Heffes) departed. Direct peer as the largest funder of legal representation in Victoria's criminal justice system, overlapping client base.

Regional players

• Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT): Largest Aboriginal Legal Service in Australia, providing criminal and civil legal services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people outside Victoria. Comparable in mission and service mix as a specialist Indigenous legal service, but operates in a different state jurisdiction.

Others

• Human Rights Law Centre: National independent legal and advocacy organisation focused on human rights, including criminal justice reform. Co-hosted IWD 2017 with LACW and Arnold Bloch Leibler; overlapping systemic advocacy mandate rather than direct client-service competition.
• Women's Health West: Women's health promotion and primary prevention organisation in Melbourne's west, co-hosting IWD events with LACW. Adjacent rather than competing, as a community-sector partner serving overlapping cohorts through non-legal support services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LACW_Vic
• Facebookfacebook.com/lacw.org.au
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/law-and-advocacy-centre-for-women

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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