Low Cost and Free Legal Advice
Contact VALS for information about the services offered and eligibility guidelines. Community legal centres are independent, not-for-profit, community-based organisations. To search for a community legal centre, please use the search function below. You can fill out as much or as little information as you want to activate the search. You can then contact the appropriate community legal centre directly. The Welfare Rights Centre provides free legal information, advice and representation for NSW residents, specialising in social security law and family assistance law and its administration by Centrelink.
Community legal centres offer free legal help, particularly for people experiencing financial difficulties or those at a social disadvantage. Cancer Council operates a pro bono legal referral service in relation to legal matters faced by those living with cancer. immigration law attorney canterbury Lawyers may be able to help with wills and powers of attorney, access to superannuation, Centrelink disputes, credit and debt problems, insurance disputes, employment law, and other matters. The referral service is means tested (looks at your income and assets). Please also be advised that while you may request a specific type of legal assistance, such as court representation, there is no guarantee that your referral will be for that specific assistance.
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.
Find private firms and practitioners that are registered to run cases using grants of legal assistance. If you are going through a separation or divorce that involves family dispute, you may be able to use our Family Dispute Resolution Service instead of going to court. You will only be able to take part if you or the other parent in the dispute is eligible to get a lawyer to run your case. If you need help with a different type of legal matter, you can get our help over the phone, or get our help in-person at our office or at an outreach location. Applications for legal aid can be submitted online by completing Legal Services Online Legal Aid Application.
If a center provides court representation or further assistance, you may be required to pay for disbursements (e.g. expert reports) if a waiver cannot be obtained for you. Our members offer a first consultation on a variety of legal issues to any member of the community in South Australia. The Law Society’s See a Lawyer Referral Service connects you with law firms who specialise in your specific area of need, in your preferred location. If you need a lawyer to represent you during your case, you can apply for legal aid. Anti-racism is an active process that requires committed, consistent, and targeted attention and action.
It was introduced to particular local courts to help people who cannot afford a lawyer, who do not qualify for legal aid and who have a matter before the court on the day. If you need legal advice and want a lawyer to argue your case in court, then a duty barrister can help you. This new and enhanced service combines specialist legal advice, risk screening, safety planning, social support and referrals for people who have experienced, used or are alleged to have used family violence. Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) provides free legal information, education and advice for children and people with low incomes and / or experiencing disadvantage. We partner with private law firms and lawyers across Victoria to provide legal aid services. If legal aid is granted, you will have to pay a contribution towards your legal costs.
If you can't afford legal advice or support in court, you might be able to get free or cheaper help. If your matter meets the criteria above, they may ask you to complete an application form. Once you have completed the form and they have accepted your application, the organisation will then attempt to refer you to a solicitor, law firm or barrister with the right expertise. The Law Society of New South Wales may be able to do a pro bono referral to a solicitor if you have been turned down by legal aid and cannot afford legal fees.
If you have no particular lawyer in mind, we will arrange someone. The NSW Bar Association runs a Legal Assistance Referral Scheme that can connect you to a barrister or mediator who can provide you with advice and/or appear in court for you. The Scheme does not assist with matters such as personal injury, medical negligence, neighbourhood disputes or apprehended violence. As a specialist women’s legal service, we acknowledge the way Australia’s colonial legal and justice system continues to disproportionately harm Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children. LawAcess NSW is a free information service run by Legal Aid NSW. They provide legal information and referrals for people with a legal problem in NSW.
Some solicitors offer 'no win, no fee' as a way of paying for civil cases, such as personal injury. A no win, no fee agreement is sometimes known as a 'conditional fee agreement' (CFA). A free or fixed-fee appointment can help you find out your rights and legal position.