Free legal help and social support in New South Wales
In many cases Legal Aid also provides duty lawyer services at certain courts. Justice Connect provides free legal advice and assistance for people experiencing disadvantage. Sometimes, they can make referrals to private lawyers who can give advice for free – called pro bono. Sometimes, they can make referrals to private lawyers who can give advice for free which is called pro bono.
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 law firms reviews 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.
Family Violence Law Help is a national website for people wanting to understand domestic and family violence, the law and where to get help. This website was developed by the Domestic Violence Unit of Legal Aid NSW on behalf of National Legal Aid. Our national initiatives are designed to offer specialised assistance, promote access to justice, and ensure that vulnerable groups receive the legal support they need. HRL Legal provides cost effective legal and migration services in Sydney, NSW.
Staff at the courts and tribunals can give you certain information, including where to find a form and information on fees, but they cannot give you legal advice. Our Helpline is a free, confidential phone service that will connect you to a paralegal who can give you legal information or book an appointment with a Legal Aid lawyer. Many of our services are provided for free or low-cost to everyone, without asking about your personal circumstances.
Referrals to volunteer solicitors are generally for legal advice, with potential representation depending on the solicitor’s assessment of your matter and capacity. Free legal advice is available to any person on many legal matters. Our legal staff will identify a client's problem, inform a client of their rights and obligations and help them understand what courses of action can be taken. Our legal staff may also provide further assistance where appropriate. Our free Legal Helpline is available for preliminary information, general advice and referrals. Advice is usually restricted to a client's basic legal rights and obligations about a particular situation.
The agreement was reviewed by Victoria Legal Aid and the Department of Justice and Community Safety, in consultation with a working group of CLCs and the Federation of CLCs Victoria. Improvements to the agreement and supporting documents and templates were made based on the changes proposed by CLCs. This included clarifying service standards and streamlining reporting requirements. This review followed the sector consultation and review of the previous agreement in the CLSP Reform Project 2017–22. Victoria Legal Aid grants and administers funding to 42 CLCs, including Djirra, the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and the Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria (FCLC).
If you need brochures and other printed items to use yourself or share with your community group, you can order these for free on our Publications webpage. We also record podcasts and run community legal education events to help everyone understand their legal rights. The new CLSP agreement for 2025–28 came into effect on 1 July 2025 following a review and updates to reflect government requirements, including the National Access to Justice Partnership 2025–2030.
Our legal service provides free legal advice, information, some minor assistance and casework and referrals to low income and disadvantaged people across the South West of Western Australia. We focus on assisting clients who are disadvantaged and cannot otherwise access legal advice, either from a private practitioner, another community agency or through a grant of legal aid. Community legal services provide legal education in their communities to help people understand their rights and responsibilities, and advocate for better laws and greater access to justice.
We support and represent our 25 members, who are community legal centres and family violence prevention legal services in WA. There are also ‘specialist’ services that focus on a particular area of law, or a particular demographic. Legal Aid WA is a WA government legal service which provides legal advice and assistance services on criminal, family and civil law issues. Whether you qualify for legal aid depends on your type of legal problem, your personal situation, and their resources. See a full list of all the community legal centres and family violence prevention legal services in WA and how to contact them.