This section discusses the advantages of partnering and co-locating with other organisations to provide a more holistic, trauma-informed response to clients' needs. The section also introduces the concept of health justice partnerships and provides examples of successful partnerships and co-location initiatives.

This section also explores the concept of integrated practice, an approach that unifies different services to comprehensively meet an individual's or community's diverse needs. It highlights the importance of a client-centred focus that recognises and addresses the broad spectrum of challenges a client may be dealing with, beyond just the legal issue. The section also provides examples of successful integrated practice models and resources for implementing such practices.

Partnering and co-locating with other organisations can significantly enhance the effectiveness and reach of a legal service. By being located in close physical or digital proximity, or working in partnership with organisations that address other aspects of social, health and economic issues, legal services can provide a more holistic, trauma-informed response to their clients' needs. This approach also increases access to legal services, as clients with histories of trauma may feel more at ease seeking help in familiar settings or may discover legal help that they would not have otherwise sought out. Moreover, a culture of collaboration can be cultivated, where organisations learn from each other, share knowledge, and work together to better serve their clients. Generalist legal assistance services can leverage expertise from specialist services or pro bono firms, and individual lawyers can benefit from secondments and fellowships.

However, it is crucial that successful co-location and partnership arrangements maintain clear communication, shared objectives and mutual respect, with strict measures in place to ensure client confidentiality and privacy in the shared space. Partnerships are most successful when made at multiple levels through an organisation, not just at the service delivery level.

Partnerships can also facilitate co-location and enable outreach legal services to ensure access to justice for people who might find accessing traditional legal services difficult. Co-counselling, where a legal service and legal firms acting pro bono work together to undertake public interest litigation, has also proven successful.

Integrated practice, often called integrated service delivery, is an approach that unifies different services to comprehensively meet an individual's or community's diverse needs. In the context of a legal assistance organisation, this involves coordinating with various other services, such as mental health, social work, housing, and employment services. The goal is to address the interconnected issues clients face, ensuring they receive a holistic support network that addresses their legal, social, emotional and economic needs, ultimately providing a more seamless, supportive experience.

Embracing an integrated practice approach within your legal service can provide a multitude of advantages. The heart of this approach is a client-centred focus that recognises and addresses the broad spectrum of challenges a client may be dealing with, beyond just the legal issue. These challenges can encompass social, financial, health and mental health, all of which can be intricately interconnected with the legal situation.

A trauma-informed approach, when incorporated as an integral part of integrated practice, ensures that the legal service is sensitive to the trauma experiences of the client. This recognition can lead to more effective communication and trust-building, ultimately providing a safer environment for the client.

Simultaneously, the rights-based approach reaffirms the inherent human rights of every individual and guides the practice in delivering justice. This approach promotes respect, fairness, dignity and autonomy, aligning with the ethical obligations of the legal profession.

The integrated practice model creates a more efficient system by reducing the need for multiple appointments and referrals. It encourages a preventive approach to discern and mitigate potential legal issues before they escalate, resulting in both cost savings and improved outcomes for clients.

Additionally, this practice promotes greater collaboration with professionals from other disciplines, such as social workers, healthcare providers, Aboriginal field officers, community liaison officers and financial advisors. This fosters a holistic and comprehensive solution for complex client problems, taking into account all aspects of their situation, including any trauma they may have experienced and their inherent rights.

Within the organisation, integrated practice cultivates an environment of innovation and ongoing learning. It prompts team members to think creatively and beyond traditional boundaries, fostering a culture of problem-solving and adaptability.

Finally, funding bodies are recognising the value of such a wrap-around approach. Organisations that demonstrate their ability to work in a cooperative, trauma-informed, rights-focused and client-centred way are more likely to receive financial support. Hence, adopting an integrated practice not only improves the quality of client service but also nurtures a more collaborative, innovative, and sustainable legal service.

Some resources have been produced to assist legal services to implement integrated practice. This includes the Victorian Federation of Community Legal Centre’s Integrated Practice Toolkit. This is a practical guide that supports lawyers and other community and health professionals to navigate the risks related to legal professional privilege and mandatory reporting in the context of integrated service models. Eastern Community Legal Centre have a model of integrated practice that provides further examples that can be easily adapted to other legal assistance settings, while South-East Monash Legal Service has undertaken research into integrated service models in community legal centre settings. These resources are particularly useful in ensuring role clarity between lawyers and other professionals.