Self-Help Legal Information

There are a wide range of websites, apps and phone services offering free legal information that you can use without — or before — seeing a lawyer. Most of these are provided by governments or community legal centres. Local libraries can also help with a range of legal resources.

Some law firms offer inexpensive legal document templates for purchase online. Before purchasing legal documents, however, it’s important to check the terms and conditions of sale and make sure the template is suited to your circumstances.

PLEASE NOTE: The Australian Pro Bono Centre is not responsible for the accuracy or suitability of any information, products or services provided by organisations listed on this page.

• Australia-wide legal information

• Legal information in languages other than English

• Legal information specific to each State and Territory:
  • Australian Capital Territory
  • New South Wales
  • Northern Territory
  • Queensland
  • South Australia
  • Tasmania
  • Victoria
  • Western Australia

• Law firms offering legal document templates

The following online legal information resources may be helpful:

• Australia.gov.au: Public Safety and Law – a comprehensive database of links to legal information about various areas of law. The site also includes a directory of legal information sites relevant to each State and Territory.
• Family Relationships Advice Line (phone 1800 050 321) – provides information on family relationship issues and advice on parenting arrangements after separation. It can also refer callers to local services that can provide relevant assistance.
• Family Violence Law Help provides information on domestic and family violence, family law, child protection and domestic violence protection orders, as well as where to get help Australia-wide. The illustrated website can be translated into over 20 different languages and has individual factsheets for each page that can be downloaded and printed.
• Foolkit – an extensive website that provides practical how-to guides and information on various areas of the law, including finding the right lawyer, preparing your own legal documents, and the rules of each Court. The site has information for both lawyers and the general public and covers each State and Territory.
• Austlii – publishes a vast amount of public legal information such as legislation (all Australian jurisdictions), treaties and decisions of courts and tribunals, and other materials  such as law reform and royal commission reports. It also provides plain-English guides to the law.
• ComLaw – publishes Commonwealth legislation.
• Commonwealth Legal Financial Assistance – information on legal financial assistance schemes administered by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department.

Information about common legal issues is available in a wide range of community languages.

For newly-arrived migrants who are developing English language skills, What’s the Law? Australian law for new arrivals is a legal education resource. It provides basic information on common legal issues and gives suggestions on how to get free legal help.

There are other resources available to assist people who speak languages other than English, including:

• NSW – LIAC links to NSW agencies that offer multi-lingual legal information.
• Qld – Legal Aid Queensland provides links to translated brochures on key legal topics.
• Vic – Victorian Legal Aid publishes information on Victorian law in multiple languages.
• WA – Legal Aid WA provides inks to information and resources for people requiring legal assistance in languages other than English.

• Legal Aid ACT (1300 654 314) – help with legal problems is available through the Legal Aid Helpline from 8.30am to 7pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8.30am to 5pm on Friday.
• The ACT Law Handbook Online – provides a comprehensive overview of legal matters in ACT in easy-to-understand language.
• Youth Law Matters – legal information handbook, created by Legal Aid ACT and the Youth Law Centre ACT to help individuals understand some of the laws that concern young people.
• ACT Law Society – has a very useful page which provides information about common legal issues.

• LawAccess (1300 888 529) – provides information, advice and fact sheets on a range of legal matters, and can also refer individuals to Legal Aid.
• LawAssist – a section of the LawAccess website providing information for self-represented litigants. It contains practical guides and resources on representing yourself in various aspects of law, including debts and small claims, car accidents, AVOs, fines, fences, employment rights, recovery of goods, driving offences and crime.
• The Law Handbook (NSW) – there are multiple chapters available on different areas of law, and is a great resource to support your own legal research in various areas of law.
• Legal Information Access Centre– a specialist information service of the State Library of NSW, which provides information about the law for all members of the community in NSW via the Find Legal Answers website, public libraries, and by working in partnership with key legal sector agencies.
• Find Legal Answers – a service that can be accessed online or through your local library. You can also Ask a Librarian direct in person, online or by phone on (02) 9273 1414 to help you find the right resource.
• Not-for-profit Law – an information hub produced by Justice Connect that contains resources for not-for-profit organisations. For example, a guide to auspicing, guides to tax exemptions and other key governance issues.
• AskLOIS – a secure website providing a free legal online information service for community workers in NSW, who are rural and regionally based, and are responding to women with domestic violence related legal needs. The website was created by and is maintained by Women’s Legal Service NSW.

• The Law Handbook – provides ‘plain English’ information on a broad range of legal topics, produced by Darwin Community Legal Service and the NT Legal Aid Commission, with the support of the Law Society of the Northern Territory Public Purposes Trust. The Law Handbook is available online.
• Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission – produces a range of publications and fact sheets to help the community understand the law in the Northern Territory. The Legal Aid Helpline (1800 019 343) provides free legal information to help you understand your situation and the next steps to take. It is available to all Northern Territory residents regardless of financial circumstance.

• Legal Aid Queensland – (1300 65 11 88) – Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm for legal assistance and information about how the law applies to your problem.
• State Library of Queensland – provides access to numerous legal resources, both in hard copy and online, for its members, including the Queensland Law Handbook.
• LawRight – has a range of useful factsheets arranged by area of law. Topics include bankruptcy, child safety, defamation, discrimination, employment, guardianship, mental health, personal injuries, and police misconduct.
• Your rights, Crime and the Law a useful online directory for those with legal issues, produced by the state government. Its ‘Your Rights’ section provides information on general individual rights in Queensland.
• Legal Aid Queensland – has online resources aimed at helping individuals resolve their legal problem across different areas of law.

• Legal Services Commission of South Australia (1300 366 424) – Legal Help Line provides preliminary information, advice and referrals to South Australian residents and is available 9am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
• The Law Handbook (SA) – contains an overview of the law in South Australia presented in everyday language. It outlines your rights and responsibilities in a range of legal areas and advises on where you can go for more assistance.
• The Legal Services Commission of South Australia has numerous resources for the public including:
  • Publications, covering many legal topics for the general public
  • Migrant Information Legal Education
  • Youth Legal Education.

• Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania (1300 366 611) – Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. Free legal advice available to all Tasmanian residents.
• The Tasmanian Law Handbook (online) – this is a teaching and learning resource, for people interested in the law and for anyone who is looking for more information about an issue.
• The Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania provides numerous resources for those encountering issues with the law. These include:
  • ‘Self-help kits’ – provide Guides and forms for people wanting to represent themselves in relation to civil Matters, family law and criminal law
  • Education Sessions – run by the Commission’s lawyers. The sessions are state-wide, free of charge and can be tailored to suit the needs or interests of your particular group
  • Fact Sheets – written for the Tasmanian public and cover matters which the Commission regularly receives questions about.
• Magistrates Court of Tasmania – provides information and court forms on residential tenancy.
• Multicultural Access Point (MAP) – service provided by the Tasmanian Government that includes information about services and support to assist migrants with justice or legal issues.

• The Law Handbook (VIC) – an extensive guide to all community law matters in Victoria, featuring legislation and case indexes that are cross-referenced with dynamic pop-up boxes advising of the latest law changes and updates.
• Victoria Law Foundation – a not-for-profit organisation which produces a range of publications to help Victorians understand the law and the legal system.
• Not-for-profit Law – an information hub produced by Justice Connect that contains resources for not-for-profit organisations. For example, a guide to auspicing, guides to tax exemptions and other key governance issues.

• Legal Aid Western Australia (1300 650 579) – Legal Aid WA InfoLine, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, provides information, advice and other legal help.
• Youth Legal Service – has general information aimed at issues facing young people under 25.

Some law firms offer a low-cost service that enables their clients to prepare their own legal documents by purchasing and downloading online document templates. Before using these services, make sure you understand the terms of sale. If you are not sure whether the document template is suited to your circumstances, contact the firm.

Lawpath is one example, offering for sale online legal document templates in several areas including wills, powers of attorney, letters of demand and simple business documents. Fixed-fee legal advice on tailoring the documents to the purchaser’s circumstances is also available. Lawpath also provides referrals to other firms offering fixed-fee legal advice.