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Do you have a legal problem? 
This pamphlet is available in the following languages ON-LINE: English | Español | Italiano DOWNLOAD PDF: Arabic (243K) | Chinese (528K) | Croatian (193K) | Greek (151K) | Italian (113K) | Khmer (126K) | Macedonian (160K ) | Laotian (320K) | Serbian (162K) | Spanish (115K) | Turkish (160K) | Vietnamese (131K) For more information on using and viewing pdf files click here. If you are unable to view or use pdf files, contact the Community Education and Publications Unit on (02) 9219 5028 and we will send you a copy. What do we do? | How to apply | In which areas can Legal Aid help you? | Preparing for your interview? | Special Services | Do you need an interpreter? | Criminal matters | Where else can you get help? | Are you Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander? | Where to find us What do we do? The NSW Legal Aid Commission provides free legal advice at all of our offices. Advice is usually limited to about 15 minutes so our lawyers can see as many people as possible.You must make an appointment for advice. Family law advice is available without an appointment at our head office in Sydney from Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm Ground Floor 323 Castlereagh St (corner of Hay St) Haymarket. If you need more than legal advice, we can provide a lawyer to help with your case. This is called being granted legal aid. If you are granted legal aid, you may be helped by a legal aid lawyer or, in some cases, a private lawyer. How to apply To apply for a grant of legal aid, you must complete an application form. Forms are available from all our offices and from duty lawyers at local courts. In most civil and family law cases, you can also apply through a private lawyer who does legal aid work. A private lawyer can charge you for any work not covered by a grant of legal aid. The application form is used to assess:
In which areas can Legal Aid help you? We can help you with most areas of law, including:
Special Services Parents in child support matters Our Child Support Service assists parents in child support matters. Contact (02) 9744 3833, or 1800 451 784 (outside Sydney metropolitan area). Children We advise and represent children involved in criminal and child welfare cases before the Children’s Court. Where appropriate we advise and represent parents involved in child welfare cases (when not acting for the child). Our Children’s Legal Service operates from Legal Aid offices at:
For other courts, see the duty lawyer at the court. People with mental health problems Contact our Mental Health Advocacy Service on (02) 9745 4277 TTY. Prisoners in most gaols Contact our Prisoners Legal Service on (02) 9219 5888 (reverse charges) or 1800 806 913. Veterans and their dependants Contact our Veterans’ Advocacy Service on (02) 9339 7677, (02) 9339 7228 TTY.
Criminal Matters If you are going to the local court about a criminal matter, you can speak to a duty lawyer. Duty lawyers are available at local courts every day. If this is your first time in court and you want to see a duty lawyer, you should be at court by 9am. If your case has been adjourned or you are pleading ‘not guilty’ you should contact a Legal Aid office well before your hearing. Legal Aid may also be able to help you if you are appearing in the District Court, Supreme Court or the Court of Criminal Appeal. Our lawyers can help you if you are on remand and want to appeal to the Supreme Court in Sydney for bail. Where else can you get help? Chamber Magistrates in most local courts can give you free advice and will help you fill out legal forms. Ring your local court to find out when you can see the chamber magistrate. Community Legal Centres give free legal advice and provide help with problems not covered by Legal Aid. Contact us on 1800 806 913 to see if there is a centre near you. Community Justice Centres provide a free mediation service for people in dispute with friends, family members or neighbours. Look in the telephone book for the centre nearest you, or telephone (02) 9218 5955 or 1800 671 964 (toll free) Private Solicitors The NSW Law Society can refer you to private lawyers in your area. It can also provide information about private lawyers who do legal aid work. Contact the Law Society’s Community Assistance Department on (02) 9373 7300 or 1800 357 300 (country callers only). What if you can’t get to a Legal Aid Office? You can get help by telephoning our Legal Aid HelpLine for FREE. 1800 806 913 9am–5pm Monday to Friday. If you live in the country, and there is no Legal Aid office near you, you can call our HelpLine, talk to a Chamber Magistrate at your local court or see a private lawyer who does legal aid work. List of Legal Aid offices Are you Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander? You can get help from all Legal Aid offices or from Aboriginal Legal Services (ALS), who provide free help. ALS offices are listed in the phone book. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children can also get help from the NSW Aboriginal Women’s Legal Resources Centre (1800 686 587) or the Indigenous Women’s Contact Line (1800 639 784). |
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