Accessing legal advice

If you need to go to court or you have questions about a general legal matter, it is important that you receive professional legal advice.

When getting legal advice, find out what your solicitor must tell you and disclose about costs.

If you cannot afford a lawyer when you go to court, there are lawyers who give free legal advice and other help (duty lawyers) who may be available to assist you. A free duty lawyer service is provided at large courts and tribunals across NSW.

See our JP register

General matters

Here are some examples of general legal issues you might need advice on.

  • Consumer advice
  • Corporate advice
  • Employment advice including unfair dismissal
  • Contracts and harassment
  • Discrimination and harassment
  • Tenancy disputes
  • Advice on personal rights
  • General advice on property (excluding conveyancing)
  • Divorce and initial advice on custody
  • Defacto relationships
  • Guardianship
  • Access and property settlement
  • Debt recovery
  • Estate matters including wills
  • Government disputes
  • Administrative disputes
  • Neighbour disputes
  • Personal injury and damages

Court matters

Here are some examples of court matters you might need help with.

  • Assault
  • Drug offences
  • Property offences
  • Victim's compensation
  • Criminal matters
  • Domestic violence
  • Discrimination
  • Motor vehicle accident
  • Workers compensation
  • Restraining orders

Legal services near your campus

  • Albury-Wodonga

    Community legal services

    Hume Riverina Community Legal Service

    Telephone advice, face to face clinics, and rural outreach 
    Suite 5, 91 Hume Street Wodonga VIC 3690
    1800 918 377 or 02 6057 5000
    cls@umfc.com.au
    communitylaw.org.au/alburywodonga

    International Students

    Redfern Legal Centre

    Redfern Legal Centre offers free legal advice to International students anywhere in NSW.
    http://rlc.org.au

  • Bathurst

    Community legal services

    Bathurst Legal Advice Service

    Free criminal, family and civil advice provided by private practitioners and Community Legal Centre solicitors on behalf of Legal Aid NSW.
    Bathurst Information and Neighbourhood Centre
    96 Russell Street Bathurst NSW    2795
    02 6352 1266
    Every Thursday, 10am to 12:30pm (Appointment required)

    Elizabeth Evatt Community Legal Centre

    An independent community organisation that provides free legal advice and other legal services to the people of the Blue Mountains, Lithgow, Oberon and Bathurst regions. This service provides free legal advice over the telephone. EECLC's solicitors provide free legal services, including advice and some casework, in Family law, Domestic violence, Victims compensation, Credit and debt, Age and disability (Wills advice, Powers of Attorney and Guardianship), Tenancy (Blue Mountains only), Discrimination, Welfare rights Solicitors do not do conveyancing or give legal advice in relation to commercial, taxation, criminal or immigration matters.02 4782 4155 or 1300 363 967
    Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 10am – 12pm. Otherwise, you can call and make an appointment.
    eeclc.org.au

    Aboriginal Legal Service Bathurst

    282 Howick Street Bathurst NSW 2795
    02 6331 1255

    International Students

    Redfern Legal Centre

    Redfern Legal Centre offers free legal advice to International students anywhere in NSW.
    http://rlc.org.au

    Private firms offering free legal advice

    McIntosh McPhillamy & Co

    Level 1, Royal Hotel Building 108 William Street Bathurst NSW 2795
    02 6331 1533
    Saturday morning from 9 am -11am (except long weekends, Christmas and Easter)
    mcmc.com.au

  • Canberra

    Community legal services

    Women's Legal Centre (ACT & Region) Inc

    Free, confidential telephone advice
    Monday to Friday 9.30am to 12.00 noon
    Canberra ACT 2601
    02 6257 4499
    1800 634 669 (TTY: 1800 555 677
    coordinator@womenslegalact.org
    womenslegalact.org

    Legal Aid ACT

    2 Allsop Street Canberra City ACT 2601
    02 6243 3411
    legalaid@legalaidact.org.au
    legalaidact.org.au

    Queanbeyan Family Law and Child Support Advice Service

    Queanbeyan Local Court
    1800 551 589
    Every 2nd Wednesday of the month, 12pm - 4:30pm

    International Students

    Redfern Legal Centre

    Redfern Legal Centre offers free legal advice to International students anywhere in NSW.
    http://rlc.org.au

  • Dubbo

    Community legal services

    Western NSW Community Legal Centre Inc

    Rural Women's Outreach Program, financial counselling and employment advice
    51 Bultje Street Dubbo NSW 2830
    02 6884 9422 or 1800 655 927
    western_nsw@clc.net.au

    Aboriginal Legal Service Dubbo

    23-25 Carrington Ave Dubbo NSW 2830
    02 6882 6966

    Legal Aid Dubbo

    64 Talbragar Street Dubbo NSW 2830
    02 6885 4233
    legalaid.nsw.gov.au

    International Students

    Redfern Legal Centre

    Redfern Legal Centre offers free legal advice to International students anywhere in NSW.
    http://rlc.org.au

  • Goulburn

    Sorry we don't have any legal firms secured for Goulburn, please refer to Other legal services below.

  • Orange

    Community legal services

    Orange Legal Advice Service

    Free civil law advice provided every Tuesday from 10am to 1pm
    121 Byng Street Orange NSW 2800
    02 6362 8022

    International Students

    Redfern Legal Centre

    Redfern Legal Centre offers free legal advice to International students anywhere in NSW.
    http://rlc.org.au

  • Port Macquarie

    Community legal services

    Mid North Coast Community Legal Centre

    Suite 2, 52 Lord St Port Macquarie NSW 2444
    02 6580 2111
    info@mncclc.org.au
    http://mncclc.org.au
    Monday: 9:00am - 12:30pm, 2:00pm - 5:00pm
    Tuesday: 9:00am to 12:30pm, 2:00pm - 5:00pm
    Wednesday: Closed
    Thursday: 9:00 am - 12:30pm
    Friday: 9:00 am - 12:30pm

    Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre

    Legal Aid Family Law & Child Support Service A free service offering advice in Family Law & Child Support issues
    Cnr Muston & Dodds Sts Port Macquarie NSW 2444
    1800 451 784, 02 6583 8044 or 02 6584 1914
    pmncinfo@midcoast.com.aupmncinfo.org.au

    International Students

    Redfern Legal Centre

    Redfern Legal Centre offers free legal advice to International students anywhere in NSW.
    http://rlc.org.au

  • Wagga Wagga

    Community legal services

    Aboriginal Legal Service Wagga Wagga

    19 Trail Street Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
    02 6921 9230

    Legal Aid

    Ground floor, Suite F, Best Place, Morrow Street Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
    02 6921 6588
    legalaid.nsw.gov.au

    International Students

    Redfern Legal Centre

    Redfern Legal Centre offers free legal advice to International students anywhere in NSW.
    http://rlc.org.au

  • Wangaratta

    Community legal services

    Hume Riverina Community Legal Service

    Telephone advice, face to face clinics, and rural outreach
    Suite 5, 91 Hume Street Wodonga VIC 3690
    1800 918 377 or 02 6057 5000
    cls@umfc.com.au communitylaw.org.au/alburywodonga

    Victoria Legal Aid

    1800 677 402
    legalaid.vic.gov.au
    Monday - Friday, 8.45am - 5.15pm

    International Students

    Redfern Legal Centre

    Redfern Legal Centre offers free legal advice to International students anywhere in NSW.
    http://rlc.org.au

  • Other legal services

    Other Legal Services

    LawAccess NSW

    LawAccess NSW is a free NSW wide telephone information, referral and advice service open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. All calls are answered by information officers who can explain:

    • legal aid policies and services
    • how to apply for legal aid
    • how to get help with your legal problem

    LawAccess also gives referrals to other services and will answer simple legal questions.
    Family and civil law advice is available from LawAccess lawyers if a caller can't get into a legal aid office because of the following reasons:

    • disability
    • distance
    • severe disadvantage
    • if the matter is considered urgent

    LawAccess Legal Help Line
    Phone: 1300 888 529

    Women's Legal Services NSW

    Women's Legal Service NSW Women's Legal Services (WLS) NSW is a community legal centre providing women with a range of free community legal services, including legal advice and information, education, training and resources across metropolitan and regional areas of New South Wales.

    General Women's Legal Advice Lines

    Advice Line: (02) 9749 5533 within Sydney
    Rural Free Call Line: 1800 801 501 outside Sydney
    TTY for deaf and hearing impaired women: 1800 674 333
    General Advice Lines are open
    9.30am - 12.30pm and
    1.30pm -i 4.30pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
    Our Advice Lines do not operate on a Wednesday.

    Indigenous Women's Legal Contact Line
    1800 639 784

    This toll-free line is staffed by Aboriginal women, and is open
    10:00am - 12.30pm and
    1.30pm - 4.00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
    Our Advice Lines do not operate on a Wednesday.

    Domestic Violence Advice Line

    Advice Line: (02) 8745 6999 within Sydney
    Rural Free Call Line: 1800 810 784 outside Sydney
    TTY Line: 1800 626 267
    Domestic Violence Advice Lines are open
    9.30am - 12.30pm and
    1.30pm - 4.30pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
    Our Advice Lines do not operate on a Wednesday.

    Women needing an interpreter can contact the Telephone Interpreter Service on 131 450 and ask the interpreter to contact us on (02) 9749 7700. We will connect you to a solicitor for free legal advice.

    Legal Aid Head Office

    Ground Floor
    323 Castlereagh Street
    SYDNEY NSW 2000
    Tel: 02 9219 5000
    TTY: 02 9219 5126

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