Free legal help and social support in New South Wales

In many cases Legal Aid also provides duty lawyer services at certain courts. Justice Connect provides free legal advice and assistance for people experiencing disadvantage. Sometimes, they can make referrals to private lawyers who can give advice for free – called pro bono. Sometimes, they can make referrals to private lawyers who can give advice for free which is called pro bono.
Legal Services Commission - the legal aid organisation for South Australia provides legal aid, legal advice, community legal education, duty solicitors, family dispute resolution and child support services. Legal Aid Queensland provides solicitors canterbury information, advice and representation in family, civil, and criminal law matters. The Legal Aid Call Centre is staffed by information officers who can provide legal information and referral to legal advice. Legal Aid Solicitors can provide free advice on most areas of law. Legal Aid NSW provides legal services to disadvantaged clients across NSW in most areas of criminal, family and civil law.

If you have an ongoing legal issue you will be required to pay a small contribution to the Commission or private lawyer if you are directed to one. The NT also offers a Legal Aid Helpline, available to everyone regardless of your financial assistance. We work to strengthen and support community legal services, increase access to justice and campaign for better, fairer laws in WA. National Legal Aid (NLA) represents the directors of the eight state and territory legal aid commissions in Australia. The legal aid commissions are independent statutory bodies that provide legal assistance services to the public, with a particular focus on the needs of people who are economically and/or socially disadvantaged.
The organisation provides legal help if you can’t afford a private lawyer, including initial legal advice and representation in court in criminal matters, such as bail applications. Using  CLSP funding, CLCs delivered 142,225 services (including referrals) for 54,475 people in 2024–25. We are Community Legal WA, the peak body for community legal services.
If Legal Chat is not available, please call our Legal Helpline or visit our Publications page for information and free resources to address common legal questions. If your query needs more tailored advice, we will direct you to our free Legal Helpline or arrange for someone to contact you. The Environmental Defenders Office advises on environmental and planning law and aim to increase public awareness of environmental laws and remedies. If we are unable to assist, we will refer you to someone who can. Exciting new resources to support First Nations clients in the justice system. If you have a question about the law, start with our team at LawAccess NSW.

Most Legal Aid offices offer at least one free 30 minute legal advice session, but also provide multiple education opportunities from online resources and  publications to community workshops and seminars. You may also be eligible for assistance from community legal centres or government-funded services. Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited (ALS) is a community-controlled organisation responsible for providing legal assistance to Aboriginal people in NSW and the ACT. The ALS provides legal advice, referral and casework assistance in the fields of criminal and family law (including care and protection), and in some cases civil law. Legal Aid provides a number of free legal services which are available to anyone in the community. These include legal information and referral services and, in some cases, minor assistance (for example, telephone advice).
However, duty lawyers can only provide limited help on the day. If your matter is complicated, they may be able to only help you move your court appearance to a later date. The Law Society’s Pro Bono Scheme is an application-based program where eligible applicants are referred to volunteer solicitors who provide legal assistance for free or on a substantially reduced fee basis. We may still provide links, information and referrals to other organisations.
Do you have a complex civil matter or public interest matter, and can’t get help anywhere else? LawRight supports people representing themselves in civil court matters, people facing homelessness and other disadvantage. We prefer that the person or child with the legal issue is present, so we can give accurate and targeted advice. If the person with the issue is not present, we can only provide limited information. Visit LawHelp.org and select your state to find other self-help resources and information about free and low-cost legal aid providers in your area. Legal aid lawyers have the same qualifications as other lawyers.

Community Legal Centres NSW acknowledges the Gadigal People as the Traditional Owners on whose Country we work. Community legal centres give free and confidential legal help to people in need. The Law Society of NSW may be able to do a pro bono referral to a solicitor if you have been turned down by Legal Aid and cannot afford legal fees.