Description
Victoria Legal Aid provides free advice to people with legal problems, focusing oncriminal law, family law and some civil law matters. Some of its services are availableto all Victorians, while other services are offered only to people who are eligible. Victoria Legal Aid also provides education to help build knowledge in the communityabout legal rights and responsibilities.
Services provided
- Free legal advice – in person, by videoconference or by phone
- Help if you are at court without a lawyer – through the services of a ‘duty lawyer’
- Running your case, which may include representing you in court
- Help to resolve family disputes – through conference with a ‘family dispute resolution practitioner’ or chairperson
Eligibility
Victoria Legal Aid focuses on helping people who: cannot afford a private lawyer; have an intellectual disability, an acquired brain injury or mental illness; are in a psychiatric inpatient unit; are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness; are a child or young person going to the Children’s Court; cannot speak, read or write well in English; are Indigenous Australians; are at court for a family violence matter or are at risk of family violence; are in custody or facing a serious penalty.
How to access
Call 1300 792 387.
Visit one of 14 offices around .
The National Relay Service is available to help callers who are d/Deaf, or find it hard to hear or speak to hearing people on the phone.
The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS is available (24 hours, 7 days) for callers who speak other languages. Call 131 450.
An interpreter service is available to help callers who speak other languages. Call 1300 792 387 and ask for an interpreter, or call one of Victoria Legal Aid's language .
Costs
Calls are charged at the cost of a local call.
Calls from mobile phones may be charged at a higher rate.
Victoria Legal Aid offers free information:
- through its free publications and
- through its public law library at 350 Queen Street, Melbourne.
Free legal advice is available to eligible people.
If you cannot afford a lawyer to run your case, you can ask if Victoria Legal Aid will pay for a lawyer to help you (which will require you to apply for a grant of legal
assistance).
Website
Victoria Legal AidTip
Go to the ‘Find legal answers’ on the Victoria Legal Aid website for free information on many common legal issues.
Important
Victoria Legal Aid cannot give legal advice about business or commercial matters, defamation, intellectual property, pay disputes, work injuries, wills (deceased estates) or buying and selling property.