Free Legal Advice in Australia: Where to Get It by State

Free legal advice in Australia is available from the legal aid commission in every state and territory, from more than 160 community legal centres, and from duty lawyers at many courts. In NSW, the first step is to call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529; in Victoria, call Victoria Legal Aid's Legal Help on 1300 792 387.

Before you call, write down the key dates, the names of the other people involved, and any deadline on court papers or letters. Free services generally prioritise people on low incomes and people facing urgent problems, such as a court date or family violence. If you need a private lawyer instead, our lists of the best law firms in Australia compare firms by practice area and city.

Where can you get free legal advice?

You can get free legal advice from 7 types of service in Australia.

1. Legal aid commissions. Each state and territory has a statutory legal aid body with a free phone line for legal information, plus free advice sessions for eligible people.
2. Community legal centres. Independent, not-for-profit centres that give free advice, mostly on civil and family law problems. See Community Legal Centres in Australia.
3. Court duty lawyers. Legal aid commissions run duty lawyer services at many courts to help people who have no lawyer on the day.
4. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services. Specialist services that give free legal help to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia.
5. Law society referral and low-cost schemes. Law societies refer people to private lawyers, and some run low-cost first interviews.
6. University law clinics. Some law schools run supervised clinics, such as Kingsford Legal Centre, which is part of UNSW Sydney and advises people who live, work or study in the Randwick and Botany Bay council areas.
7. Private firms offering a free first consultation. Many firms offer a short free first meeting to assess a matter before quoting.

Free legal advice by state

Free legal advice in each state starts with the legal aid commission's phone line. The table lists the commission, its free line, and the peak body that lists the community legal centres in that state, as at September 2026.

Free legal advice in NSW

LawAccess NSW is Legal Aid NSW's free legal information and referral service, on 1300 888 529 or web chat from 9am to 5pm on weekdays. LawAccess NSW can book an appointment with a Legal Aid NSW lawyer, and you do not need to apply for legal aid to get that advice. Community Legal Centres NSW lists the centres across the state.

Free legal advice in Victoria

Victoria Legal Aid's Legal Help line, 1300 792 387, runs from 8am to 6pm on weekdays, and Legal Help Chat is available online. Legal information is available to all Victorians. Free advice and duty lawyer help at court go to the people who need them most. The Federation of Community Legal Centres (Vic) lists Victorian centres.

Free legal advice in Queensland

Legal Aid Queensland's line, 1300 65 11 88, runs from 8:30am to 4:30pm on weekdays, and it has a separate line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander callers on 1300 65 01 43. Community Legal Centres Queensland lists the state's centres, and the Queensland Law Society's public directory helps people find a private solicitor.

Free legal advice in Western Australia

Legal Aid WA's Infoline, 1300 650 579, runs from 9am to 4pm on weekdays. The Law Society of Western Australia connects people with lawyers through its Find a Lawyer tool, or through Law Access, a not-for-profit organisation that arranges pro bono help for people who cannot afford a lawyer. Community Legal WA lists centres across the state.

Free legal advice in South Australia

The Legal Services Commission of South Australia runs a free Legal Helpline on 1300 366 424 and duty lawyers at court. Community Legal Centres South Australia has a central line on 1300 860 529, and its member centres offer a first consultation to any member of the SA community. The Law Society of South Australia runs the See a Lawyer Referral Service.

Free legal advice in Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory

Tasmania Legal Aid's Legal Help line, 1300 366 611, runs from 8:45am to 5pm on weekdays. Legal Aid ACT gives free one-off advice in many areas of law through its Helpline, 1300 654 314. Legal Aid NT's Helpline is a free call on 1800 019 343. In the Northern Territory, the Law Society's First Interview Scheme offers a 30-minute consultation with a lawyer for $99 including GST.

Can you get free legal advice for family law?

Yes. Legal aid commissions give free advice on family law problems such as separation, parenting arrangements and family violence, and generalist community legal centres commonly help with parenting orders and family violence. Victoria Legal Aid runs a Family Dispute Resolution Service for eligible families as an alternative to court, and Legal Aid WA funds family dispute resolution conferences about children or property. For ongoing representation, see the means and merit tests in Legal Aid in Australia. If you do not qualify, compare fixed-fee options on Family Lawyers in Australia.

Who is eligible for free legal advice?

Legal information from a legal aid commission is free for anyone. Free advice sessions and duty lawyer help are prioritised by the type of problem and your circumstances. Ongoing representation needs a grant of legal aid, which applies a means test and a merit test and can require a contribution. Community legal centres set their own criteria, and many serve a defined local area.

How do you get the most from a free advice session?

Free advice sessions are short, so preparation decides how much help you get. Take these 5 steps.

1. Note your deadline first. Say at the start if you have a court date or a time limit.
2. Bring the papers. Court documents, letters, contracts, notices and any orders.
3. Write a one-page timeline. Dates, events and the names of everyone involved.
4. List your questions. Three or four specific questions get clearer answers than a general story.
5. Ask what happens next. Ask whether the service can keep helping, or who it refers you to.

When is a free first consultation with a private firm useful?

A free first consultation with a private firm is useful when you are unlikely to qualify for legal aid, when the matter falls outside what community legal centres cover, or when you want to compare firms before committing. Confirm the length of the free meeting before you book, and ask for a written estimate of costs if you go ahead. The guide How Much Does a Lawyer Cost in Australia? explains hourly rates, fixed fees and costs disclosure.

When free help is not enough: finding a lawyer

When a free service cannot take on your matter, it will usually refer you on. Start with Community Legal Centres in Australia to find a centre near you, then compare private firms if you need ongoing representation. How to Choose a Lawyer in Australia sets out 10 checks before you sign. Compare firms in your city, including Law Firms in Sydney, Law Firms in Melbourne, Law Firms in Brisbane, Law Firms in Perth and Law Firms in Adelaide, or by practice area on Criminal Lawyers in Australia and No Win No Fee Lawyers in Australia.