The Wellington Community Law Centre was officially opened on June 3 by the Minister of Justice Mr McLay.

The centre, run by senior law students is now able to give free legal advice and assistance. We particularly expect to help in the areas of consumer, tenancy, and minor criminal law and with bureaucracy problems. All advice given and action taken by the students will be checked with a volunteer supervising solicitor.

The Law Centre will be open from 5.30 to 9.00pm, Monday to Thursday at 280 Willis St. (in between Goodies' Takeaway Bar and the Catacombes).

The opening function was held in the Aro Valley Community Hall and was attended by a large group of interested and supportive people. Members of the Judiciary, lawyers, Members of Parliament, university staff, community members, the media and students - all rubbed shoulders during a merry evening of talk, food and drink.

Conversation was interrupted for half an hour for the official speeches by the Minister of Justice, and Brent Williams the chairperson of the Law Centre committee.

Brent expressed many of the feelings and ideas of the students involved in establishing the Centre, emphasising that our primary intent is to help the community and not to 'release our academic frustration, or to sharpen our lawyering skills on members of the public.'