Free legal help and social support in New South Wales
This may be because a person needs assistance for something that Legal Aid does not do, or because they do not qualify for Legal Aid assistance. New South Wales has a free 'one stop shop' to legal services and assistance called LawAccess NSW. The Bar Association is one of the founding partners in the initiative, together with the NSW Attorney General's Department, the NSW Legal Aid Commission and the Law Society of NSW. The Government of Western Australia acknowledges the traditional custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders both past and present. A pro bono referral is where we connect you with one of our member law firms who agree to take on your matter without charging you fees for their work (pro bono).
Operating 15 offices throughout the state, Legal Aid assists Victorians to find the most appropriate legal service. The Victorian Government acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait solicitors in canterbury Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present. The NSW Small Business Commissioner provides advice for small business owners and mediation services for retail tenancy matters. If you have a legal problem in NSW, you can contact Legal Aid NSW.
See The Court Registry for information about what a registrar can and cannot do. There are pro bono referral schemes and organisations (PBROs) in every state and territory in Australia. There are a range of legal advice, information and court support services directed at Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders. New South WalesNSW is one the easiest Legal Aids in the country to see if you meet their means test because they provide a Means Test Indicator directly on their website. Although it is not a definitive decision, it does give a standard indication if you will meet their means test for legal aid in your situation.
If you’re representing yourself in your matter, then you won’t have to pay a cent for legal advice. Further, the internet means you can find a lot of useful information which may be relevant to your case online. However, self-representation is usually not recommended for those who do not have a good working knowledge of the law.
The Women’s Legal Centre provides free legal advice to women in the ACT and nearby areas of New South Wales who are experiencing or at risk of ongoing harm to their safety, economic security and independence. This includes women experiencing family and domestic violence, at risk of homelessness, or who are experiencing financial difficulties. In 2017, we initiated a review of the CLSP to ensure it aligned with current expectations regarding the planning and delivery of legal services and accountability for expenditure of public money. Based on CLC’s feedback, we developed a new service agreement and guidance documents, which embedded funding principles from 1 July 2020. Victoria Legal Aid supported centres throughout the CLSP Agreement 2020–25 to adapt to new processes and to meet the CLSP requirements. Community legal services provide free or low cost legal help to people in need.
Most Legal Aid offices offer at least one free 30 minute legal advice session, but also provide multiple education opportunities from online resources and publications to community workshops and seminars. You may also be eligible for assistance from community legal centres or government-funded services. Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited (ALS) is a community-controlled organisation responsible for providing legal assistance to Aboriginal people in NSW and the ACT. The ALS provides legal advice, referral and casework assistance in the fields of criminal and family law (including care and protection), and in some cases civil law. Legal Aid provides a number of free legal services which are available to anyone in the community. These include legal information and referral services and, in some cases, minor assistance (for example, telephone advice).
Most adults must meet the means test to get a grant of legal assistance. We offer legal representation, family dispute resolution and non-legal advocacy to those who need it most. We offer free one-off advice in many areas of law — no matter your income. LawRight partners with law firms, barristers and members of the legal profession to provide free legal help.
Plan for your safety and separation when experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence. Find out how our Help Before Court service can help you prepare if you have criminal charges and have been asked to appear at court. If you need assistance in locating us the Registry Staff, Sheriff’s Officers and Court Volunteers can direct you to our services.
It helps customers to find the information and services that are best able to assist with legal problems and questions. For example, our online legal clinic, Justice Connect Answers is entirely online, while our pro bono referrals and Self Representation Services are largely provided by phone and email. Registrars cannot provide legal advice, recommend a lawyer or give an indication about the potential outcome of your matter.