Option 1: Legal Services Commission of South Australia
- Free information via LegalChat and 24Legal
- Free advice via the Legal Help Line
- Free 30 minute Legal Advice Appointments by telephone or face to face
- 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 the Legal Services Commission
T: 1300 366 424 (Legal Help Line) or (08) 8111 5555
Option 2: 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
(08) 8342 1800
Contact a specialist CLC
Specialist Community Legal Centres include:
The Consumer Credit Law Centre provides specialist legal advice, financial counselling and legal representation in financial matters including debt, bankruptcy and mortgage stress and repossessions.
(08) 8202 5960
Environmental Defenders Office (SA branch)
(08) 8359 2222 or 1800 337 566 (free call)
Family Violence Legal Service Aboriginal Corporation (SA)
(08) 8641 2195
National Debt Helpline
1800 007 007
Women’s Legal Service (SA)
(08) 8231 8929 or 1800 655 037
Youth Law Australia
(02) 9385 9588
Option 3: 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 4: The Accessible Justice Project
- The Accessible Justice Project is a not-for-profit law firm focused on resolving civil disputes (for example: employment, residential tenancies, contracts, wills & estates and negligence matters)
- Provides low-cost legal services to assist members of the community who do not qualify for legal aid but cannot afford a private lawyer
- Cannot help with family law, criminal law or personal injury matters
Contact The Accessible Justice Project
Option 5: Adelaide Legal Outreach Service
- Online legal information on a range of legal topics
- Free face to face legal advice and assistance for disadvantaged South Australians in a range of areas
Contact Adelaide Legal Outreach
T: (08) 8313 7496
E: alos@adelaide.edu.au to make an appointment
Location: Adelaide Law School, Ligertwood Building, University of Adelaide North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
Option 6: Legal Advisory Service
- Low-cost legal advice by appointment on a range of issues such as neighbourhood disputes, traffic infringements, family law matters, workplace grievances, tenancy issues and other matters
Contact the Legal Advisory Service
W: https://www.lawsocietysa.asn.au/LSSA/Community/Advisory_Service.aspx
T: 1300 366 424 or (08) 8229 0200 to book an appointment
Option 7: JusticeNet SA
- Referrals to private lawyers who can provide free legal advice or assistance, and to other agencies.
- Cannot help in: criminal law matters, wills and estates, commercial and business disputes, building disputes, traffic offences and motor vehicle accidents, personal injury or compensation matters, family law matters
- Refugee and Asylum Seeker Project: free assistance for refugees and asylum seekers wanting to apply for judicial review of a claim for protection and in other refugee law matters.
Contact JusticeNet SA
Web: Pro Bono Referral Service
or phone Legal Help Line on 1300 366 424.
Option 8: Legal help in Court
JusticeNet Self Representation Service
In matters in the South Australian District and Supreme Court, and the Federal and Federal Circuit Court:
- Information and face-to-face advice about representing yourself in court in certain types of matters
- Cannot assist in criminal, native title or family law matters
Contact JusticeNet SA
Criminal law duty lawyer (Magistrates and Youth Court)
Free advice and representation on the court date (coordinated by the Legal Services Commission) about:
- bail for persons in custody
- adjournments/remands
- simple guilty pleas where there no risk of imprisonment
- minor criminal offences
Contact the Legal Services Commission
W: https://lsc.sa.gov.au/cb_pages/criminal_law.php
T: (08) 8111 5470
Family Advocacy and Support Service (Family Court)
A duty lawyer may be available on the court date in family law matters including those involving family violence, to:
- provide free advice
- help with adjournments
- help with legal aid applications
Contact the Legal Services Commission
W: https://lsc.sa.gov.au/cb_pages/family_law.php
T: (08) 8111 5300
Court-appointed legal assistance
For matters in the 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
Federal Court of Australia
Option 9: 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.