Solicitors

If you are seeking legal advice or assistance in New South Wales, Law Society of New South Wales Solicitor Referral Service may help you find a solicitor living in your area and who works in the areas of victim support and compensation. You may visit the Solicitor Referral Service on the Law Society of New South Wales website or phone the service on (02) 9926 0300 or 1800 422 713 (tollfree).

If you have a problem or complaint about your legal practitioner you can contact the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner. You can call the Inquiry Line on (02) 9377 1800 or 1800 242 958 (toll free) and an inquiry officer will talk to you about whether they can handle your complaint and how to use their services. For more information visist the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner website.

LawAccess NSW

LawAccess NSW helps people in NSW to find the information and services that are best able to assist with legal problems and questions. LawAccess NSW provides information, referral and advice (in some cases) to people who live in NSW or have a NSW legal problem.

LawAccess customer service officers are available on 1300 888 529 between 9.00am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday (except for public holidays). Customers who require language assistance can contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask them to telephone LawAccess NSW. For customers with hearing or speech difficulties, a TTY service is available on 1300 889 529 during business hours.

LawAccess also provides an after hours recorded information service called LawTalks that is available 7 days a week on the telephone. LawTalks has recorded information on more than 30 topics including family law, crime, debt, motor vehicle accidents, problems with lawyers and information for older people.

In addition, LawAccess Online offers access to over 1,500 plain language and non-English language legal factsheets.

Community Legal Centres

Community Legal Centres are independent community organisations providing free legal services including advice and information. Most Centres provide face-to-face legal advice as well as information over the phone. Many Centres hold daytime and evening interview and advice sessions. To find contact details of a community centre near you go to the Community Legal Centres website.

Legal Aid and other centres offering legal advice

Legal Aid is a Government legal service dealing mainly with family law and criminal legal matters. They provide free legal advice, as well as court representation and grants of legal aid funds. For more information about the services Legal Aid can provide visit the NSW Legal Aid website.

To find contact details of a Legal Aid office near you go to NSW Legal Aid Contacts for Help.

You can also discuss your legal needs with a Chamber Registrar at your nearest Local Court. You can make an appointment or you can obtain information from the telephone service. To find the contact details of your nearest local court visit the Local Courts website.

Some specialist services offering legal advice include:

Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Womens Legal Centre: Wirringa Baiya is a community legal centre for Aboriginal women, children and youth living in New South Wales and focussing on issues relating to violence against women, children and youth. You can phone the centre on 1800 686 587 (tollfree) or (02) 9569 3847.

Sydney Regional Aboriginal Corporation Legal Service (02) 9734 7169

Domestic Violence Advocacy Service is a community organisation providing a free, confidential legal service for women experiencing domestic violence. You can phone the service on (02) 9637 3741 or 1800 810 784 (toll free), TTY Service 1800 626 267. The telephone advice line operates Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30am - 12.30pm & 1.30pm-4.30pm.
Womens Legal Resource Centre assists women who are disadvantaged and their services include a telephone advice service. You can phone the service on (02) 9749 5533 or 1800 801 501 (toll free rural NSW). For the Indigenous Women's Program call 1800 639 784.

Intellectual Disability Rights Service is a community legal centre in New South Wales that helps people with an intellectual disability get their rights by providing free legal advice, legal casework and produces publications. You can phone the service on (02) 9318 0144 or 1800 66 66 11 (toll free in NSW) or email IDRS_NSW@fcl.fl.asn.au
Mental Health Advocacy Service is part of Legal Aid NSW providing free legal advice and assistance about mental health law. You can call the service on (02) 9745 4277.

The Legal Information Access Centre, maintained by the State Library of NSW, also provides a referral guide to free legal advice and assistance.

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