Members of the Practitioner Support List are experienced senior practitioners who volunteer their time to give informal advice and peer support on personal or professional matters which you might not be able to discuss with a colleague or supervising partner.
Community legal centres provide free advice and resources to the public in the Canberra region.
Canberra Community Law have launched a website covering common legal areas that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Canberra Community Law is a community legal centre providing legal services to people on low incomes or facing other disadvantage in Canberra and its region.
Canberra Community Law does not provide advice/assistance on:
The Women’s Legal Centre provides free legal advice to women in the ACT and nearby areas of New South Wales who are experiencing or at risk of ongoing harm to their safety, economic security and independence. This includes women experiencing family and domestic violence, at risk of homelessness, or who are experiencing financial difficulties.
They can provide advice on family law (separation, arrangements for the care of children, property matters and divorce), employment and discrimination, and migration (for women experiencing family violence who need help with their visa status). A social work team is available to support women who need extra assistance during their legal process.
They also provide legal and cultural support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women through the Mulleun Mura Access to Justice Program, which is led and staffed by Aboriginal women.
Care Consumer Law is a community legal centre that provides free legal advice and assistance to people in the ACT. They help consumers resolve problems with financial service providers (e.g. banks), telecommunication and utility companies, and other businesses and traders.
Care Consumer Law do not assist businesses, and do not assist in private disputes between individuals.
The Aboriginal Legal Service is an Aboriginal community organisation giving information and referral, and legal advice and court representation, to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, women and children across NSW and ACT.
The Animal Defenders Office provides free legal advice and services to people who wish to protect animals. The Animal Defenders Office is run entirely by volunteers who donate their spare time to helping people and animals.
The Environmental Defenders Office advises on environmental and planning law and aim to increase public awareness of environmental laws and remedies.
Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre can provide legal advice to people on issues such as employment, financial hardship, tenancy, fines, parenting arrangements, family law, domestic violence and victims support, and other civil law matters. Clients should call 1800 229 529 or info@shoalcoast.org.au to arrange a telephone appointment.
Legal Aid ACT helps people in the ACT with their legal problems, especially people who are socially or economically disadvantaged. They can help in criminal law, family law and some civil law matters.
Legal Aid Helpline is a free, confidential phone service that will connect you to a paralegal, who can:
Call 1300 654 314 from 8.30am to 7pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8.30am to 8pm on Wednesdays, and 8.30am to 5pm on Fridays.
The Tenancy Advice Service helps residential tenants in the ACT. It offers a free, confidential phone service that connects you to a paralegal who can offer legal advice and assistance on a range of tenancy matters.
Call 1300 654 314 512 (8.30am to 7pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 5pm Friday) or email TAS@legalaidact.org.au.
Online live chat also available at https://tawk.to/tasact
The Domestic Violence and Personal Protection Order Unit provides free legal help from specialist domestic and family violence lawyers. Call 6207 1874 or 1300 654 314 for an appointment. For emergenices, SMS 0427 143 401 or Email Civil@legalaidact.org.au.
The Youth Law Centre is dedicated to young people aged 12-25. They provide free and confidential legal advice in person, over the phone and by email.
Call (02) 6173 5410 or email ylc@legalaidact.org.au for free legal help.
The Older Persons ACT Legal Service provides legal assistance to older people in the Canberra region with legal problems, including elder abuse. Call 6243 3436 for assistance, or contact the National Elder Abuse Hotline on 1800 ELDERHelp (1800 353 374).
The Migration Clinic offers free legal information and advice if you have an immigration problem. Call 1300 654 314.
The Small Business Clinic assists small business operators with legal problems or queries concerning their business. Call 6243 3471 for a 30 minute consultation between 2pm and 5pm Thursdays.
Your Story Disability Legal Support is a free national service giving information and legal advice to people about safely sharing their story with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. Call 1800 77 1800 Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
+ The Law Society acknowledges the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, who are the traditional custodians
of the land on which our building is located. + We are committed to providing access to resources
and services to meet the needs of a diverse community. + The Law Society acknowledges the work
of Tom Bass in his statue Ethos, which has long been an icon of the Canberra legal profession
and an inspiration to the ACT Law Society.
