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Legal Aid Commission of the ACT
The Legal Aid Commission of the Australian Capital Territory (Legal Aid ACT) was established by an Act of Parliament. It is independent of the government. Its role is to help people with their legal problems.
Legal Aid ACT may be able to give you legal advice on:
- family relationships and family breakdown
- family violence
- civil law matters
- criminal law.
Advice and minor assistance
Advice and minor assistance is available for a wide range of legal problems. Legal Aid ACT provides three advice and minor assistance services:
- the Legal Advice and Information Line
- After Hours Legal Advice Line
- face-to-face appointments.
Telephone advice and information
Legal Aid ACT runs two free telephone advice and information services, providing access to legal advice and assistance 24 hours a day for people in the ACT.
Legal Advice and Information Line
The Legal Advice and Information Line is available Monday to Friday between 9 am and 4 pm on 1300 654 314.
The advice line is operated by Legal Aid ACT lawyers who may provide referrals and advice in many areas of law. The lawyers answer general questions on legal issues such as family law, neighbourhood disputes, personal injuries compensation, debt and employment.
Sometimes it is not possible to solve problems over the telephone. If the issue is complex or requires a lawyer to see documents the caller may be asked to seek further legal assistance, such as being given a free appointment with a Legal Aid lawyer. Referrals to other organisations are often provided.
After Hours Legal Advice Line
The After Hours Legal Advice service is open from 6 pm to 9 am Monday to Thursday, and from 6 pm on Friday to 9 am Monday on 0429 440 084. The service offers advice for people in police custody or in need of other urgent advice.
Face-to-face appointments
Anyone in the ACT with a legal problem can request a free 30-minute appointment with a Legal Aid ACT lawyer by calling (02) 6243 3471. When making an appointment please be clear about what your legal problem is and provide the name(s) of the other person(s) you are in dispute with and anyone else involved.
At your appointment you can help the lawyer to understand your legal problem by being clear and concise and not leaving out important details. Please bring any documents related to your problem.
Legal Aid ACT also runs a youth advice service, ’First Stop’, in partnership with the ANU College of Law and a private firm. At First Stop, law students work with a Legal Aid lawyer to provide free legal advice to young people. If you have a face-to-face interview at Legal Aid ACT you may be asked if you agree to have a student sit in and listen to the interview.
Legal assistance
Ongoing legal assistance and representation is available to people who qualify for a grant of legal assistance. Applications are subject to means, merit, policy and jurisdiction tests. For more information see Legal Aid ACT’s guidelines, available from a Legal Aid ACT office or the website (link below).
Grants of legal assistance are subject to terms and conditional on the client paying a financial contribution.
See ‘Legal assistance and representation – frequently asked questions (ACT)’ (link below).
Duty lawyer services
A duty lawyer is a lawyer who works at the courts to provide free advice and/or assistance to people who do not have legal representation. Duty lawyer services are not means tested and are provided free of charge.
Duty lawyers are available at the ACT Magistrates, Children’s, Family and Federal Magistrates courts of Australia and at the Mental Health Tribunal. Contact Legal Aid ACT or the court for more information.
Community legal Eeducation
Legal Aid ACT provides a range of legal information and education services to the community.
Talks and information sessions
Information sessions are available to schools and community groups on a range of legal issues including separation, divorce and contact with children. Legal Aid ACT also offers presentations and training for community workers.
Pamphlets and publications
Legal Aid ACT’s annual reports and guidelines are available on the web site.
Legal Aid ACT produces a range of pamphlets to inform the public about Legal Aid ACT services and about particular legal topics, such as criminal law, family law, and victims of crime.
Interpreters
If a person does not understand English, Legal Aid can pay for an interpreter to translate during an appointment with a Legal Aid ACT lawyer. If you need an interpreter, ask for one to be booked before the appointment.
More information
Legal assistance & representation – frequently asked questions (ACT)
Related publications
How to run your family law case