Finding free or affordable legal help
Our Self-help legal information page has a list of websites where you can find simple legal information.
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. solicitors 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.
We acknowledge and pay respects to their Elders, past and present. In our work, we are committed to advocating for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. LawAccess NSW information officers can give you legal information, help you plan your next step and connect you with services that can help you.
The listing of organisations below is not an endorsement of their product or service. If you are in prison, we can help you find legal information and resources, ask for a lawyer to give you advice, or make a complaint about us. They also provide legal and cultural support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women through the Mulleun Mura Access to Justice Program, which is led and staffed by Aboriginal women.
Once we have referred you to the pro bono law firm who has agreed to help with your matter, you will then be a client of that law firm, and not a client of Justice Connect. Justice Connect will no longer have any involvement in your matter, and you should direct all future communication about your matter to the law firm that is assisting you. Unfortunately, other services and legal advice are limited to people who need them most. We follow guidelines to try and make our legal help as fair as possible.
Each centre may offer different services, depending on the needs of their community and their capacity. The Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) criminal law practice provides legal advice, representation, assistance and referrals in courts, prisons and ALS offices for Aboriginal people throughout NSW and the ACT. When services beyond simple legal advice are needed, you must apply for legal aid. A grant of legal aid means we will pay a lawyer to act for you.
Everything you say to your lawyer is confidential, which means that it is not shared with anyone outside of the legal aid office. Since everything you say to your lawyer is confidential, tell your lawyer the truth. Your lawyer can help you best when you tell your lawyer the truth. Sometimes there are no free services available, and we may refer you to your State or Territory Law Society to search for a private lawyer. If we cannot help you, we will always try to refer you to another free or low-cost legal service that might be able to help you.
To contact the bar association in your area and find other lawyer referral services, visit the ABA's Find Legal Help resources. We have lawyers on ‘duty’ at many courts and tribunals across Victoria. Our duty lawyers can help if you are at court for a hearing, but do not have a lawyer. If you have a legal problem you should talk to a lawyer before making a decision about what to do.
Justice Connect's DBLS provides advice and assistance to eligible home owners whose domestic building disputes were not resolved at DBDRV. It can assist home owners who do not have access to legal help and advice from other sources. Visit the Domestic Building Legal Service website for assistance. Victoria Legal Aid provides free legal information and education for all Victorians. They can also provide advice and legal representation based on your financial situation and other individual circumstances.