How to find a lawyer

When and where to get legal advice.

Where can you go for legal help?

Sometimes you can avoid future problems if you get some legal advice early on. Many small problems have become big problems because someone has simply hoped the problem would go away.  Check your state or territory below for links to a community legal centre who you can ask for help, or who will be able to point you in the right direction of another service who can.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander you might like to apply for assistance through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services throughout the country.  Check out the links for your region below.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities

If you are newly arrived to Australia, or you are a member of a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community you might like to make contact with the migrant resource centre in your area – check below for some links.

Differences between states

Northern Territory

Services that you may wish to contact for advice in the NT include the Central Australian Women’s Legal Service (phone 08 8952 4055 or 1800 684 055), or the Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission (phone 1800 019 343).

Depending on where you live, you may alternatively want to contact the Katherine Women’s Information and Legal Service on 08 8972 1712 or 1800 620 108 or the Top End Women’s Legal Service on 08 8982 3000 or 1800 234 441.

If you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you can contact the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service on 1800 636 079 or the Northern Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency on 1800 898 251.

If you are newly arrived to Australia, or you want to connect with others in culturally and linguistically diverse communities, you may wish to contact Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia on 08 8952 8776.

If you live interstate and need legal advice, you can find your nearest Women’s Legal Service here.

ACT

For help, call the Women’s Legal Centre ACT.  If we can’t help you ourselves, we will help you find a lawyer that can.

Alternatively you can contact the ACT Law Society to find a community legal centre near to you, or to find a private lawyer.

If you live interstate and need legal advice, you can find your nearest Women’s Legal Service here.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

The Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) has a great legal service which provides advice and assistance, legal education and information.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities

You might like to make contact with the Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services (MARSS).

The MARSS has some programs and support services including their Settlement Grants Program which can which can help you understand documents and refer you to migration lawyers.

Western Australia

For help, call the Women’s Law Centre Western Australia. If we can’t help you ourselves, we will help you find a lawyer that can.

Alternatively you can contact the Legal Aid Commission of Western Australia on 1300 650 579 or find a community legal centre near to you.

You can also find a lawyer on the Law Society of Western Australia website.

If you live interstate and need legal advice, you can find your nearest Women’s Legal Service here.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander you might like to apply for assistance through the Aboriginal Legal Service.

The Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia can provide advice and assistance, legal education and information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Western Australia.

If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander living in the Perth metropolitan area and you are affected by family violence and/or sexual assault you can call Djinda Services on 9200 2202 for legal support or 9489 6391 for counselling, support, referrals and advocacy. Djinda Services provides legal advice and representation in relation to restraining orders, protection and care matters, criminal injuries compensation and family law (children’s issues).

If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander living in the Broome, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Kununurra or Port Hedland service areas and you have experienced family violence and/or sexual assault you can contact Aboriginal Family Law Services (AFLS).

AFLS provides legal and community education, legal advocacy, casework, court support and representation.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities

If you are newly arrived to Australia or you are a member of a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community you might like to make contact with the Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre (MMRC).

The MMRC has some fabulous programs and support services including their Justice Support and Immigration programs.

NSW

You can contact LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529 for a referral to a lawyer.

You can also call the Women’s Legal Services NSW on 1800 801 501 – if we can’t help you ourselves, we will help you find a lawyer that can.

You can contact South West Sydney Legal Centre advice line on 02 9601 7777 or find a community legal centre near you, or look for a private lawyer on the Law Society of NSW website.

If you live interstate and need legal advice, you can find your nearest Women’s Legal Service here.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

The Aboriginal Legal Service can provide advice and assistance, and operate throughout NSW and ACT.  You can call them on 02 8303 6600.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities

Migrant Resource Centres have some fabulous programs and support services – click here for a list of Centres throughout New South Wales.

Victoria

For help, call the Women’s Legal Service Victoria. If we can’t help you ourselves, we will help you find a lawyer that can.

Alternatively you can contact the Legal Aid Commission of Victoria on 1300 792 387 or find a community legal centre near to you.

You can also find a lawyer on the Law Institute of Victoria website.

If you live interstate and need legal advice, you can find your nearest Women’s Legal Service here.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service can provide advice and assistance, legal education and information.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities

Migrant Resource Centres have some fabulous programs and support services – click here for a list of Centres throughout Victoria.

South Australia

For help, call the Women’s Legal Service South Australia. If we can’t help you ourselves, we will help you find a lawyer that can.

Alternatively you can contact the Legal Services Commission of South Australia on 1300 366 424 or find a community legal centre near to you.

If you live interstate and need legal advice, you can find your nearest Women’s Legal Service here.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

The Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement has a great legal service which provides advice and assistance, legal education and information.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities

Take a look at the webiste of the Migrant Resource Centre of South Australia for more information about services they offer.

Tasmania

For help, call the Women’s Legal Service Tasmania.  If we can’t help you ourselves, we will help you find a lawyer that can.

Alternatively you can contact the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania on 1300 366 611 or find a community legal centre near to you.

You can also find a lawyer on the Law Society of Tasmania website.

If you live interstate and need legal advice, you can find your nearest Women’s Legal Service here.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Community Legal Service provides legal advice and assistance, legal education and information.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities

The Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) have some fabulous programs and support services including their Justice Support and Immigration programs. MRC have an office in Hobart, and an office in Launceston.

Queensland

If you contact Women’s Legal Service Queensland we can soon help you find a lawyer if we can’t help you ourselves.

Alternatively you can contact Legal Aid Queensland on 1300 651 188 or find a community legal centre near to you.

You can also find a lawyer on the Queensland Law Society website.

If you live interstate and need legal advice, you can find your nearest Women’s Legal Service here.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (Qld) Ltd has a great legal service which provides advice and assistance, legal education and information.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities

You might like to make contact with The Migrant Centre who have some fabulous programs and support services including their Migrants Matter program.  They have Migrant Centre offices in Southport and Coolangatta.