Legal help and advice services
However, we may be able to give general advice to clarify a matter. Our centre assists people living in the inner-west, south-west, southern suburbs of Sydney, and beyond, through a range of state-wide services. Our members provide Free Legal Advice, assistance and referrals to community members who might otherwise not get the help they deserve. If you have been declined assistance by a CLC, you can approach the Law Society with an application seeking fee-free (pro bono) assistance from a law firm in the ACT.
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. canterbury family solicitors 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.
Each community legal centre may offer different services, depending on the needs of their community. Western AustraliaThe WA Legal Aid provides a full range of services for those seeking help in legal matters. There are dedicated teams to help with different aspects of legal needs. Basic information and advice offers the core of their services. Legal Aid NT offers a range of services including legal information, legal advice, representation, family dispute resolution, and education services.
As an organisation focused on justice, equity and decolonising the legal system we have a zero-tolerance policy for racism and are committed to addressing systemic racial privilege and disadvantage. We seek to identify, call out and redress ways of working and systems, including our own, that cause harm or additional hurdles for those who have been racialised. Victoria Legal Aid is an independent, state-wide organisation that assists people with legal problems, especially Victorians who are financially or socially disadvantaged. Tenants NSW website provide free information and advice to tenants, boarders and lodgers, and residential community residents.
Links to forms, fees and payments that are used for a range of the Department's programs and services. Law Access considers applications from not-for-profits and individuals in genuine need of legal assistance. Street Law is a free outreach legal service for the homeless and those at risk of homelessness in Western Australia.
You may be able to get referral to pro bono assistance through the district or supreme courts if you have been unable to get other legal help. Across the country, at local courts and tribunals, anyone can approach a duty lawyer for assistance if they have a matter at court that day and do not have a lawyer. Appointments can be made at our Adelaide office or any of our suburban and regional offices, including Elizabeth, Port Adelaide, Noarlunga, Port Augusta and Whyalla. For people living in other regional areas, a telephone advice appointment can be arranged.
Our lawyers regularly visit the mental health inpatient units of hospitals in Melbourne, Bendigo, Dandenong and Geelong. The NSW Ombudsman receives and responds to complaints about NSW public authorities and community providers funded by the NSW Government. The Housing Appeals Committee is an independent agency that deals with appeals from people who are unhappy about a decision made by a NSW social housing provider. Justice Connect can provide task-orientated assistance in preparation for court such as assistance in preparing documents. Together with our members and communities, we campaign for social justice and a fair legal system.
(For the difference between civil and criminal issues, see The Differences between Criminal Court and Civil Court). CLCs can either be generalist or specialist legal service providers. Before you go to court, contact us to find out if you can see a duty lawyer or how we can help you with your legal problem. We may be able to match you with free legal assistance to help with disputes, or to assist you to better understand your legal rights and obligations.
Community Legal Centres NSW acknowledges the Gadigal People as the Traditional Owners on whose Country we work. Community legal centres give free and confidential legal help to people in need. The Law Society of NSW 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.