About Legal Aid NSW
Legal Aid NSW is a service run by the government that helps people in NSW with their legal problems.
We are separate from other government services like the police, so we can act independently.
What legal problems can we help you with?
- Criminal offences.
- The police say you broke the law.
- You have to go to court.
- You are in prison.
- Money worries, debts and fines.
- Eviction, rent or housing problems.
- Your job, like if your boss treats you unfairly.
- Discrimination and human rights.
- Your rights about goods, services and contracts.
- Domestic and family violence.
- Apprehended violence orders (AVOs).
- Splitting up and divorce.
- Child protection issues involving DCJ.
- Child support.
- Parenting orders and grandparent rights.
- Family dispute resolution and mediation.
How can we help you?
Our website includes lots of information about most legal problems.
LawAccess NSW is our call centre.
You can contact LawAccess NSW about your legal problem over the phone or on webchat.
They will listen to your story to understand what you need.
They will ask if you want to speak to an Aboriginal staff member and will try to arrange this if you do.
LawAccess NSW staff are not lawyers, but can give you free information about the law or find other services that can help.
They will keep your information confidential and treat you with respect.
Start a web chat or call 1300 888 529 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
When a lawyer gives you help with your specific legal problem, we call this legal advice.
LawAccess NSW can book you an advice appointment with a lawyer if you are eligible.
Advice appointments only include help the lawyer can give you during the meeting. Sometimes, they can help you fill in a form or write a letter.
The lawyer will talk to you about what to do next and ask you some questions to help them decide if we can give you a lawyer to represent you.
If they think you meet our rules, they will help you fill out an application form for a grant of legal aid.
A grant of legal aid is an agreement that means a lawyer will help you with your case. It explains what your lawyer can do for you.
Your lawyer may work for Legal Aid NSW, or they may be a private lawyer we pay to help you.
We have rules that you need to meet to get a lawyer. Some of them are about who you are and how much money you have. Some of them are about your case.
If you’re not able to get a lawyer, we have information on our website to help you represent yourself, and information on how to find a private lawyer to help you.
Ongoing help from a lawyer is not free. Most people will have to pay some money towards the legal costs of their case.
We have specialist legal services
We can help with money worries, discrimination, problems with the police, housing and Centrelink problems.
To find out more about the service and which communities we visit, call 1800 793 017 or (02) 9219 5057.
We are an Aboriginal led service made up of lawyers, Aboriginal Field Officers, caseworkers and non-legal staff, who are dedicated to assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children in family law and care and protection matters, as well as through outreach to communities throughout NSW.
Call FamAC on (02) 9407 2941.
We advise and represent children involved in criminal cases. Call CLS on (02) 8688 3800.
If you are under 18 and need urgent advice, call the Youth Hotline on 1800 10 18 10. The hotline is open:
- Monday to Thursday, 9am to midnight, and
- Friday to Sunday and public holidays, 24 hours.
We provide free help to parents, grandparents and carers who pay or receive financial support for children after separation.
Call the Child Support Service on (02) 9633 9916 or 1800 451 784.
We provide free legal advice about mental health and guardianship law.
Call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529.
We provide advice to prisoners and people on certain types of prevention orders.
Call PPO on (02) 9219 5834 from 10am to midday and 2pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
A free, independent legal service for young people in out of home care.
Call Your Voice on (02) 9068 1789.
Aboriginal Field Officers
Our Aboriginal Field Officers (AFOs) are here to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
AFOs work in many communities across NSW. To speak to an AFO call your nearest Legal Aid NSW office, or contact the Aboriginal Services Branch via email at aboriginalservices@legalaid.nsw.gov.au.
The Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) also employ field officers. Call the ALS on 1800 765 767.
Free publications and resources
We produce factsheets and brochures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to help with your legal problem.
For more information, see Publications and resources.
Duty lawyers at court
Many courts have duty lawyers who may be able to help you if you don’t have a lawyer.
You should still get legal advice or call LawAccess NSW before you go to court.
Duty lawyers can only help you on the day of your court date. They can help you understand what has happened or will happen in court. They might be able to tell you what to say or speak to the court for you.
Duty lawyers can usually only help you if you and your case meet certain rules. They only help with certain kinds of cases.
When you get to court, ask court staff to point you to the room where the duty lawyers are.
Taken into police custody?
If you have been taken into police custody you are legally entitled to speak immediately to a lawyer from the Aboriginal Legal Service.
This is called Custody Notification Service (CNS). It is a 24-hour legal advice and R U OK phone line for Aboriginal people taken into police custody.
All police stations have this phone number, which can be called 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Call (02) 9318 2122 during working hours for more information about this service.
Where can you get more legal help?
LawAccess NSW is a free information service run by Legal Aid NSW.
Start a web chat or call 1300 888 529 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
The Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT (ALS) gives free legal advice and provides legal representation in some matters.
Call the ALS on 1800 765 767 or visit the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT website.
Wirringa Baiya is a community legal centre for Aboriginal women, children and young people living in NSW. They provide free legal advice and representation relating to family violence.
Call Wirringa Baiya on 1800 686 587.
This contact line provides free confidential legal information, advice and referrals to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in NSW. It is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
Call the First Nations Women’s Legal Contact Line on 1800 639 784.
CLCs give free legal advice and help with all kinds of legal problems.
Call 1300 888 529 or find a CLC in your area.
The Law Society of NSW can refer you to private lawyers in your area. It can also tell you about private lawyers who do legal aid work.
Call the Law Society’s Solicitor Referral Service on (02) 9926 0300.
WDVCASs assist women and children experiencing domestic violence get legal protection from the court.
Call 1300 WDVCAS (1800 938 227) or find your closest WDVCAS.
Where can you find us?
We have offices across NSW. We also visit locations in metropolitan and regional NSW where you can discuss your legal problem.
To find your nearest Legal Aid NSW office, see Our offices.
Downloads
You can download this page as a PDF in English.
Last updated: June 2026