Inner City Legal Centre’s mission is to offer innovative, empowering and high-quality legal services through advice, representation, education and advocacy.

1981

Allen, Allen & Hemsley throw the Centre a pro bono

The Inner City Legal Services Centre gratefully receives its first pro bono solicitor from law firm Allen, Allen & Hemsley. It is hoped that many other local firms will follow their generous lead.

1982

Freedom of Information Act 1982 provides right to seek internal and external review and for complaints to the Ombudsman.

1983

The Inner City Legal Service officially changes its name to the Inner City Legal Centre.

1984

ICLC celebrates the Crimes (Amendment) Act 1984 which decriminalises adult male homosexual sex

1985

ICLC solicits support for the deregulation of prostitution in NSW

1986

Residents Lobby against Monorail

ICLC assists local residents in their opposition to the development of the Darling Harbour/City Monorail System.

1988

St Vincent’s Hospital Draws on ICLC Assistance

ICLC provides vital legal support to St Vincent’s Hospital, assisting patients suffering from AIDS in drawing up their wills and securing their final wishes.

1989

ICLC’s Immigration Assistance Expands Its Borders

ICLC extends its immigration legal services accepting referrals from the Refugee Advice and Casework Service, The Torture and Trauma Centre, and Newtown Immigration Centre.

1992

Recession Brings New Challenges

ICLC stays busy providing support employment law advice with a large number of workers laid off during the economic recession.

1994

Launch of the Lesbian and Gay Wills Project

ICLC launches the Lesbian and Gay Wills Project which raises $6000 in donations for the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre, Twenty10 and the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby. Over 140 people take advantage of the Project to make new wills.

1995

Discrimination Test Case for HIV+ Woman

ICLC becomes involved in a landmark discrimination case advocating for an HIV+ woman denied access to a clinical drug trial due to her childbearing potential. The woman sadly passed before the complaint was determined and the Human Rights Commission terminated the complaint. ICLC acted for the woman's estate and successfully appealed the decision up to the Full Federal Court, who agreed that the complaint can not be terminated by reason of the complainants death.

1996

ICLC Advocates for Project Addressing Violence and Discrimination against Transgender People

The ICLC seeks support of the establishment of a pilot project to address violence and discrimination against transgender people.

1997

ICLC Continues to Advocate for Law Reform

The Combined Community Legal Centre Group of NSW (ICLC, Redfern Legal Centre and Marrickville Legal Centre) continue to contribute to law reform appearing at a Joint Standing Committee Upon Victims Compensation, and making submissions to the Senate on the Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 1996.

1998

Special Needs of Transgender Inmates Recognised

After several years of lobbying, Department of Corrective Services implements its Policy for the Management of Transgender Inmates. The Policy’s release coincides with ICLC’s involvement in a District Court case in which a former transgender inmate sues the Department for its alleged breach of duty of care.

1998

Unfairly Dismissed Employees Find Guidance in New ICLC Publication

A grants from the Law Foundation and NSW Legal Aid Commission allows the ICLC to create and publish “An Employees Guide to Unfair Dismissal”.

1999

"De-facto" Definition Expanded to Include Gay and Lesbian Couples

After a long struggle by the gay and lesbian communities, the 'Property (Relationship) Legislation Amendment Act 1999 (NSW)' is passed. ICLC conducts ongoing community education campaigns around the new legislation and its expanded definition of de-facto.

2000

Legal Battle for War Widow’s Pension

ICLC assists a client who was denied a war widow’s pension due to the Veterans Entitlement Act 1986, which excluded same-sex couples from eligibility.

2002

Landmark Victims Compensation Tribunal Case

With ICLC's assistance, a victim of multiple sexual assaults is awarded $250,000—one of the largest compensations ever granted by the Victims Compensation Tribunal.

2003

Support for Lesbian and Gay Legal Rights Service

ICLC continues its auspice of the weekly Lesbian and Gay Legal Rights Service, strengthening its support for the LGBTIQ+ community.

2004

Indigenous Legal Cadetship Scheme Launch

ICLC partners with Inner Sydney Legal Groups to launch a joint publication advocating for an Indigenous Legal Cadetship Scheme for the not-for-profit sector.

2004

First Edition of "Fined Out" published alongside Redfern Legal Centre

The ICLC along with Redfern Legal Centre publishes the first edition of Fined Out: A practical guide for people having problems with fines.

2005

Discrimination Test Case for Transgender Client

ICLC represents a transgender client in a pivotal discrimination case after they were denied access to gender affirmation surgery.

2006

Talking Turkey Second Edition

ICLC publishes the second edition of Talking Turkey: A Legal Guide for Lesbian Mothers and Sperm Donors in NSW, providing crucial legal information for families.

2007

Women’s Employment Rights Project

The Women’s Employment Rights Project is launched, providing crucial support for women in the workforce. It concludes successfully after 24 months.

2007

ICLC Represents Transgender Woman Denied Amended Passport

The ICLC represented a transgender woman who was denied an amended passport as she was married. The ICLC was successful and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was ordered to issue her a passport that says ‘female’.

2008

ICLC Relocates to Kings Cross

ICLC moves from Oxford Street to a new location at 50-52 Darlinghurst Road, continuing its commitment to the community.

2009

World-First Legal Services Launched

ICLC creates two groundbreaking services: a legal advice service for intersex people and the Safe Relationships Project (SRP). SRP provides support for people in same-sex relationships, transgender people, and intersex people experiencing domestic violence.

2010

ICLC Represents Client Awarded $35,000 for Homophobic Vilification

ICLC, with support from pro bono counsel, wins land-mark homophobic vilification case Carter v Brown. The client was awarded $35,000 in damages for vilification on the basis of his sexuality.

2011

The ICLC Continues to Advocate for the Community

In 2011, the ICLC made multiple law reform submissions including supporting the Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, and contributing to the Inquiry into Domestic Violence Trends & Issues in NSW, the Australian Law Reform Commissions Review into Family Violence, and the Statutory Review of the Crimes (Domestic & Personal Violence) Act 2007.

2013

Sex Worker Legal Service Established

The ICLC launches the Sex Worker Legal Service. In its first year, the service recovered wages for a transgender sex worker, obtained an AVO to protect the sex worker from an ex-client who was stalking them, along with other important casework.

2014

Safe Relationship Project receives multiple awards

The ICLC's LGBTQI Domestic Violence Program is allocated a safe room at the Downing Centre and awarded the Prestigious Law and Justice Foundation of NSW Community Legal Centres NSW Justice Award

2015

ICLC Adds Voices of LGBTQI survivors of Domestic Violence

The ICLC Contributes to the LGBTIQ DV Interagency’s Calling it what it really is: A report into LGBTIQ Experiences of DFV and the Southern Women’s Group’s Just Another Piece of Paper? Making your AVO work for you

2016

ICLC Wins Awards for Fair Play and Special Medical Procedures Project

The ICLC's Fair Play project, which provides Mardi Gras party-goes with information about their rights, wins the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Achievement Award. The ICLC also takes out the Community Legal Centre NSW Award in the 2016 Justice Awards for the Special Medical Procedures Project.

2017

Australia Votes Yes to legalising same-sex marriage

2018

ICLC Educates After Landmark Decision

The ICLC produces fact sheets on the new state of the law after the successful case allowing transgender youth to have more control over medical decisions. The Full Court of the Family Court of Australia makes the decision in Re Kelvin [2017] FamCAFC 258 that empowers transgender youth to have more control over treating their gender dysphoria by allowing them access to oestrogen or testosterone treatment without the Family Court’s intervention

2019

Transgender And Gender Diverse Legal Service Established

The ICLC launches the Transgender Legal Service in partnership with law firm Dentons.

2020

ICLC Celebrates Landmark Decision of Re:Imogen

The ICLC celebrates after a landmark family court ruling that allows a 16-year-old transgender girl to access gender-affirming hormone treatment after her mother opposed her transition. The Inner City Legal Centre (ICLC) speaks to the Sydney Morning Herald, stating that the court's decision in Imogen's case "improves certainty" for families and transgender young people.

2022

ICLC Partners with Lou's Place Providing Outreach Advice to Vulnerable Women

The ICLC provides outreach at Lou's Place, which provides a safe and supportive place to empower women to rebuild their lives. An ICLC solicitor attends Lou's Place fortnightly providing immediate assistance, advice and referrals.

2023

ICLC Represents Sex Worker Recovering Client Debt in District Court

The ICLC proudly represents a sex worker in recovering unpaid invoices for sex work. The successful decision unequivocally confirms that sex work is real work and that people who do not pay for services provided by sex worker will be held accountable.