FCVic has made a submission to the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s (VLRC) review of legal privilege and integrated legal assistance services. Drawing on the experiences of financial counsellors working within community legal centres and integrated settings across Victoria, the submission argues that integration doesn’t exist as a simple binary between “loosely” and “closely” integrated services, but operates along a continuum shaped by client cohort, organisational structure and area of practice. It cautions that an overly prescriptive legislative framework risks creating uncertainty and could discourage effective collaboration.

The submission draws a functional comparison between the information-gathering role financial counsellors play in integrated legal settings and that of paralegals and legal support staff, arguing this warrants similar privilege protections. It also highlights the benefits of integrated practice in reducing re-traumatisation for clients, particularly those experiencing family violence, by allowing them to tell their story once. FCVic’s six recommendations call for a reform approach that recognises the diversity of integrated practice models, supports collaboration between lawyers and financial counsellors, provides safeguards for sensitive practice areas, and preserves compliance with mandatory reporting obligations.