Prisoners Legal Service (PLS)

Legal Aid NSW statewide specialist service.

Prisoners Legal Service (PLS) is a statewide specialist service of Legal Aid NSW.

PLS can provide advice, minor assistance and representation to prisoners. Our service is free and confidential.

We can represent you at:

hearings at the State Parole Authority
life sentence determinations
segregation appeals
visiting magistrate hearings

We can provide free advice and minor assistance in matters like:

bail
legal aid
appeals
parole
classification and other prison issues

In family law areas like:

care and protection
property
children's issues
child support
divorce

Our lawyers either visit or arrange video link or telephone conferences with prisoners in all NSW gaols.

You can contact us by:

pressing #2 on the Common Auto Dial List (CADL) and ask for PLS. This is a free call. Sometimes this phone service will be restricted to the following hours:
- Morning: 10am to 12pm,
- Afternoon: 2pm to 4pm.
asking the Functional Manager or SAPO to put your name on the list to Legal Aid.
writing to: Prisoners Legal Service, PO Box 695 Parramatta NSW 2124.

Friends and family of prisoners can contact Prisoners Legal Service on 02 9066 6046 during business hours, or by emailing PLS@legalaid.nsw.gov.au.

Resources - Crime

A guide to bail

This page has a guide on how to apply for bail and what happens when you get bail.

A guide to indictable appeals

This page has a guide to indictable appeals that will help you understand the appeals process and how to apply for legal aid.

Serving a sentence for a commonwealth offence

Are you serving a sentence for a Commonwealth offence? A guide to parole

Appealing to the District Court

This page has information about how to appeal against orders made in the Local or Children’s court if you are not happy about a decision that was made in your case.

Can I get Legal Aid? (Videos)

Do you have questions about grants of legal aid? To find out more, watch our new animated videos. (multiple languages).

Character references

This page has information about written references and how they can help you if you are going to court.

Going to court a guide to the local court

This page has information about what to do if you have received a Court Attendance Notice for a criminal offence and have to go to a Local Court in NSW.

Have you breached your...

This page has information that outlines what happens if you have breached your parole, home detention or intensive correction order.

I am in prison on remand

This page has information about help you can get with your legal problems while you are in prison on remand.