Finding the right legal representation is crucial for protecting your rights and navigating the complexities of the legal process. A friend or family member might have a lawyer they can recommend to you, or the list below shows an inclusive list of low-to-no-cost legal representation options:
1. Community legal centres (CLCs)
- Description: CLCs provide free legal advice, information, and representation to people who cannot afford a private lawyer. These centres can assist with family law matters, including divorce, child custody, and property settlement.
- Eligibility: Services are generally available to those experiencing financial hardship, including low-income earners and women facing domestic violence.
- How to access: Locate your nearest CLC through the Community Legal Centres Australia website.
2. Legal Aid
- Description: Legal Aid commissions in each state and territory offer free or low-cost legal services for those who meet the eligibility criteria. Legal Aid can provide representation in court, as well as legal advice and assistance with family law issues.
- Eligibility: Primarily for low-income individuals. Eligibility is determined based on income, assets, and the merits of the case.
- How to access: Visit your state’s Legal Aid website to apply or find out more.
3. Women’s Legal Services
- Description: Specialised legal services for women, often focused on family law, domestic violence, and issues related to gender discrimination. These services offer free or low-cost legal advice and representation.
- Eligibility: Available to all women, with some services prioritising those experiencing domestic violence or financial hardship.
- How to access: Find a service in your state using the tab system below.
Family Violence Law Help: A helpful national resource to learn about family law, child protection and restraining orders.
National Enquiry Centre Family Court Matters Resource Hub: Learn about separating smart, children, finances, property and other family-related legal concerns.
Legal Aid WA Duty Lawyer Service: A duty lawyer can advise you about your legal options but cannot represent you at trial. They are a good place to start discussing your legal concerns.
Helpful videos: Learn about family law and separating with Legal Aid WA.
Women’s Legal Service WA: Women’s Legal Service WA provides a range of legal support services to West Australian women in crisis or those facing disadvantage.
Legal Aid ACT Domestic and Family Violence Unit: Specialist domestic and family violence lawyers who are available to provide you with free legal help every day of the week.
Women’s Legal Centre ACT: Provides free legal advice and representation to women, trans people and non-binary people.
Care Consumer Law: A community legal centre that provides free legal advice and assistance to people in the ACT involved in legal disputes with financial service providers such as banks and other credit providers, telecommunication companies and other businesses and traders.
ACT Duty Lawyers: A duty lawyer can advise you about your legal options but cannot represent you at trial. They are a good place to start discussing your legal concerns.
Legal Aid Duty Lawyers: A duty lawyer can advise you about your legal options but cannot represent you at trial. They are a good place to start discussing your legal concerns.
Community Legal Centre’s ‘Find a match’ Online tool: Answer a short survey to find a community legal centre that may be able to help you
Women’s Legal Service NSW: Women’s Legal Service NSW (WLS NSW) is a community legal centre providing women across NSW with a range of free legal services.
LawAccess NSW: A free government telephone service that provides legal information, referrals and in some cases, advice for people who have a legal problem in NSW. They are a starting point to help with your legal problem (1300 888 529).
Community Legal Centre Queensland services search: Search by category and location to find local services to help with your legal concerns.
Legal Aid Queensland Family Law Guide: This booklet is for anyone who needs basic information on family law. It is for people who are thinking about separation or who have separated.
Legal Aid Request for Duty Lawyers: A duty lawyer can advise you about your legal options but cannot represent you at trial. They are a good place to start discussing your legal concerns.
Women’s Legal Service Queensland: A community legal centre offering free legal assistance to women., with offices in Brisbane (Annerley), Caboolture, Ipswich and at the Gold Coast (Southport). They provide legal advice and support with domestic and family violence, family separation or divorce, parenting, child safety and protecting counselling notes in sexual assault matters.
Victoria Legal Aid: A free services legal services to protect and represent the rights of Victorians.
Legal Aid VIC Duty Lawyers: A duty lawyer can advise you about your legal options but cannot represent you at trial. They are a good place to start discussing your legal concerns.
Women’s Legal Service Victoria: Free and confidential services to help women experiencing family violence, separation, and divorce to find safety and get legal advice.
Legal Services Commission of South Australia: Legal Services seeks to give all South Australians equal access to justice through the legal system, providing free legal information, legal advice and legal education to all. They offer a duty solicitor service, to help advise or represent people and a Family Law Guide.
Women’s Legal Service SA: Women’s Legal Service (SA) is a community-based legal centre and not-for-profit organisation that provides legal services, assistance and justice to the women of South Australia who are in vulnerable circumstances.
Legal Aid Tasmania: Provides legal information and advice, representation, minor assistance, mediation and legal education to all Tasmanians.
Women’s Legal Service Tasmania: Women’s Legal Service Tasmania is a community legal service funded by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department. A free and statewide service, with offices in Hobart, Burnie and Launceston.
Community Legal Centres Tasmania: Find a list of available legal centres that provide free legal services to the public.
The Court Support and Liaison Service: This service provided by Victim Support Services, Department of Justice, provides free and confidential support to adult and child victims of family violence.
Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission: Find free call helplines, information on popular topics, and support for finding a lawyer.
Legal Aid Duty Lawyer Service: Legal Aid can give you legal advice and represent you in the local court.
Women’s Legal Service Northern Territory: Find four available services that provide free legal support to women, by location.
Community Legal Services List: Find a list of all available legal services in the NT.
4. Family relationship centres
- Description: These centres offer mediation services to help couples reach agreements on family law matters, such as child custody and property settlement, without going to court. They also provide information and referrals to other legal services.
- Eligibility: Available to all, but fees are charged on a sliding scale based on income.
- How to access: Find your nearest centre through Family Relationships Online.
5. Legal and support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS)
- Description: ATSILS provides culturally appropriate legal services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia. They assist with family law, criminal law, civil law, and human rights matters, including domestic violence and child protection issues.
National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services (FVPLS)
Description: FVPLS provides legal assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children experiencing family violence. Their services include legal advice, casework, court representation, and community legal education. They also offer support with issues like child protection, family law, and victims’ compensation.
First Nations Women’s Legal Program at Women’s Legal Service NSW: A free, confidential legal information, advice and referrals to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in NSW. It has a focus on domestic violence, sexual assault, parenting issues, family law, discrimination and victim support.
Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre: A state-wide community legal centre for Aboriginal women, children and youth. Wirringa Baiya focuses on issues relating to violence.
6. Legal and support services for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Migrant and Refugee Women
- Immigrant Women’s Speakout Association NSW: Provides advocacy, legal information, and support for immigrant and refugee women in NSW.
- NSW Refugee Service: Offers legal assistance and support services to refugees and asylum seekers in New South Wales.
- InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence Victoria: Provides legal services, case management, and advocacy for CALD women experiencing family violence in Victoria.
- Immigrant Women’s Support Service Queensland: Provides crisis support, case management, and legal advocacy for immigrant and refugee women experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault in Queensland.
- Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma: Offers legal information, support services, and counselling for refugees and asylum seekers who have experienced torture or trauma.
- Western Australia Ishar Multicultural Women’s Health Services: Provides legal information and support services to CALD women in Western Australia, focusing on family law and domestic violence issues.
- South Australia Migrant Women’s Support Service: Provides advocacy, legal information, and support for migrant women experiencing domestic violence in South Australia.
- South Australian Migrant Resource Centre (AMRC): Offers a range of support services, including legal information and referrals, for migrant and refugee women in South Australia.
- Tasmania Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania: Provides legal support and advocacy services for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in Tasmania.
- Canberra Multicultural Women’s Advocacy: Offers legal support and advocacy for CALD women in the ACT, focusing on family law and domestic violence.
- Northern Territory Melaleuca Refugee Centre: Provides legal information, support services, and referrals for refugees and asylum seekers in the Northern Territory.