Finding Legal Aid and community legal centres

Start with your state or territory

Each Australian jurisdiction has a Legal Aid commission. National Legal Aid links to those bodies, which explain service priorities, application processes and contact options.

Community legal centres

Community legal centres may provide generalist or specialist help. Some focus on a region or group; others focus on issues such as tenancy, consumer, employment or family violence.

• Check service area and issue type
• Ask about appointment or intake arrangements
• Have key dates and documents ready
• Request referrals if the service cannot assist

Other public and specialist pathways

Depending on the problem, another service may be more suitable than a private Law Firm. Law societies and bar associations publish referral tools; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services provide culturally appropriate assistance; and ombudsmen, commissions or regulators may handle defined complaints.

• Use the relevant state or territory Legal Aid commission
• Search Community Legal Centres Australia by location and issue
• Check whether an Aboriginal legal service, women’s legal service or youth service fits
• Look for an official ombudsman, commission or tribunal pathway
• Ask a court registry about published duty-lawyer and self-representation information

Urgent and safety-related help

If there is immediate danger, contact emergency services. Legal services also publish dedicated pathways for family violence, youth, tenancy and other urgent problems; availability varies by jurisdiction.