Option 1: Law Access NSW
- Free telephone and online legal information
- Free telephone legal advice in some cases
- Referrals to Legal Aid and other services
Contact Law Access NSW
T: 1 300 888 529
Option 2: Legal Aid NSW
- 20 minutes of free face-to-face legal advice
- Free or low-cost legal representation by applying for a Grant of Legal Aid. Eligibility for a Grant of Legal Aid depends on your income and assets, and whether you have a strong legal case.
Contact Legal Aid NSW
Contact your nearest Legal Aid office to make an appointment
T: 1300 888 529 (LawAccess) to discuss your eligibility
Option 3: Community Legal Centres
Contact your nearest Community Legal Centre (CLC) for:
- Free online legal information
- Free legal advice representation in some cases, depending on the Community Legal Centre’s eligibility guidelines.
OR
Contact a specialist Community Legal Centre (most have eligibility guidelines).
Contact a CLC
Use the Community Legal Centres NSW Recommendation Service to find a CLC suitable for your situation.
Contact a specialist CLC
Specialist Community Legal Centres include:
Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT)
1800 765 767 (police charges and court matters) or 1800 733 233 (care and protection and family matters)
Australian Centre for Disability Law
(02) 9370 3135 or 1800 800 708
Arts Law Centre of Australia
(02) 9356 2566 or 0457 418 630 (general enquiries only)
The Financial Rights Legal Centre specialises in financial services, particularly in the areas of consumer credit, banking, debt recovery and insurance.
1300 663 464 (Insurance Law Service) or 1800 007 007 (National Debt Helpline) or 1800 808 488 (National Mob Strong Debt Help)
Homeless Persons’ Legal Services
(02) 8898 6545
Immigration Advice and Rights Centre
(02) 8234 0700
Intellectual Disability Rights Service
(02) 9265 6300 or 1300 665 908
Justice Connect (in NSW, help in a variety of matters including tenancy, contract disputes and discrimination, as well as assistance for self-represented litigants in certain matters)
(02) 8599 2100
Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS)
(02) 8355 7227
Seniors Rights Service
1800 424 079
Tenants’ Union of NSW
Find your local tenants’ advice and advocacy service here.
On Mondays (10am – 1pm and 2 – 5pm): Tenants’ Advice Line on 1800 251 101
The Welfare Rights Centre provides free legal information, advice and representation for NSW residents, specialising in social security law and family assistance law and its administration by Centrelink.
(02) 9211 5300 or 1800 226 028 (outside Sydney)
Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre
A women’s legal centre which provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children and youth with legal representation, advocacy, advice and referrals.
(02) 9569 3847 or 1800 686 587 (free call)
Women’s Legal Service NSW
(02) 8745 6988 or 1800 801 501 (rural)
Youth Law Australia
(02) 9385 9588
Option 4: Everyday Justice
- Everyday Justice is a not-for-profit law firm owned by Mills Oakley
- A national free legal service to help people and organisations who have ‘everyday’ legal issues but can’t afford a lawyer or access to Legal Aid
- Cannot help with: family law, criminal law, immigration, property, Centrelink matters, NDIS or workers compensation
Contact Everyday Justice
Option 5: Law Society of NSW Pro Bono Scheme
- Referrals to private lawyers who can assist for free or at low cost (that is, pro bono)
- Eligibility depends on your income and assets, whether you have applied for Legal Aid and the merits of your case
Contact the Law Society of NSW
W: lawsociety.com.au to complete an application form
T: (02) 9926 0364
Option 6: Law Society ‘Find a Lawyer’ Referral Service
(for paid legal services)
- Referrals to up to 3 firms that may be able to assist for a fee
- Some firms may discount their fee or charge on a “no win, no fee” basis. Discuss this directly with the firm
- Contact this service if there is no free legal help available
Contact the Law Society of NSW
Option 7: Legal help in Court
NSW Bar Association Legal Assistance Referral Scheme (LARS)
Referrals to barristers who may be able to provide free or low-cost advice or representation
Contact the NSW Bar Association
Duty lawyer services
Free representation in certain matters including:
- Criminal matters facing imprisonment, family law and child support, domestic violence, care and protection, Mental Health Advocacy Service, discrimination, consumer law and AAT Centrelink matters
Legal Aid duty lawyer service
W: https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/for-lawyers/duty-lawyers-information
T: 1300 888 529 (LawAccess) or 1800 101 810 if you are under 18
AAT duty lawyer service
T: 1800 228 333
Justice Connect Self-Representation Service
For matters in the Federal Court and the Federal Circuit Court (and occasionally, cases in the County Court and Supreme Court of Victoria):
- Free information and face-to-face advice about representing yourself in Court
- Limited to bankruptcy, Fair Work or employment law, federal discrimination law and judicial review of federal government decisions
Contact Justice Connect
Court-appointed legal assistance
For matters in the Supreme Court of NSW, District Court of NSW and Federal Court of Australia:
- Court referrals to private lawyers who can assist for free or at low cost (that is, pro bono)
- Limited to cases where there is no other free legal help available
Supreme Court of NSW
Federal Court of Australia
Option 8: Legal info
Legal information can help you decide on the best solution for your legal problem. Our Self-help legal information page has a list of websites where you can find simple legal information.