Learn how to love your neighbour during Law Week

A FREE session on how to best resolve common neighbourhood disputes is one of several events happening across Geelong during Victorian Law Week.

Held between Monday, May 17 and May 23, Victorian Law Week describes itself as “making learning about the law easy”.

It involves many different organisations who present seminars, shopping centre displays, advice sessions, panel discussions, launches, exhibitions, lectures, court and parliament tours, and other public events that aim to engage Victorians with the law and their legal system.

One of these will be “Love Your Neighbour?”, presented by the Barwon Community Legal Service and Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria in Corio on Monday, May 18.

People are invited to learn about the most common neighbourhood disputes, tips on resolving disputes and where you can get access to free legal and mediation assistance.

Barwon Community Legal Service lawyers Caleb Leitmanis and Peter Dickinson, who both have experience in solving all kinds of neighbourhood disputes, will present the session.

“You can’t choose your family or your neighbours,” Mr Leitmanis said.

“Join us for an evening with legal and mediation specialist to shed some insight as to how to remedy neighbourhood issues that commonly arise.”

“Love Your Neighbour?” will be held at the Rosewall Community Centre, 36 Sharland Road, Corio, on Tuesday, May 18 from 6-7pm.

Other events in the Geelong region include:

• The importance of having a valid will, power of attorney and medical treatment decision maker, presented by the Portarlington Maltese Pensioners Association at Parks Hall on Tuesday, May 18 from 3-5pm
• The importance of preparing your will, presented by the Geelong Regional Library Corporation at the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre on Tuesday, May 18 from 6.30-7.30pm
• Free legal advice, presented by Forty Four Degrees Legal in a pop-up legal clinic van outside the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre on Wednesday, May 19 from 10am-5pm, and
• An interactive, 70-minute K9 display with the Barwon Prison dog squad at the Geelong Gaol on May 23 from 10.30-11.45am.

There are also many events being hosted online.

“Victorian Law Week is not a legal conference, careers expo or a ‘legal industry thing’ – it’s for all Victorians,” Victoria Law Foundation executive director Lynne Haultain said.

“During Victorian Law Week, everyone in regional Victoria has unparalleled access to support and advice regarding their everyday legal issues, and every event is free.”