Legal aid is part of Australia’s publicly funded legal assistance system. Each state and territory has an independent legal aid commission. Services can include legal information, advice, duty-lawyer help and representation, but the services and eligibility rules vary.
Find an official legal assistance service
The Australian Attorney-General’s Department legal assistance directory links to every state and territory legal aid commission and explains other publicly funded services.
Depending on your circumstances, you may also be able to contact:
- a community legal centre;
- an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service;
- a women’s legal service or family-violence legal service; or
- a specialist service for your type of matter.
Use the official directory rather than an old phone-number list: contact details, opening hours and service coverage can change.
How eligibility works
A legal aid commission may consider your financial position, the nature and seriousness of the matter, whether the case has legal merit and whether funding is available under its guidelines. Different services may use different tests. Owning an asset or earning an income does not, by itself, let this website determine whether you qualify.
Contact the commission in your state or territory and provide complete information. Ask whether it offers a telephone information service, duty lawyer, advice appointment, grant of aid or referral for your type of matter.
If you need a private lawyer
Go To Court Lawyers offers a 60-minute initial consultation for $295. The consultation may be by phone, video or in person, depending on your matter, location and lawyer availability. Any ongoing work and fees are discussed separately.
Call 1800 577 015 at any time for general legal information from Jen, our AI assistant, or request a lawyer consultation. Jen is not a lawyer and does not give legal advice. Appointment requests are subject to a suitable lawyer being available.
General information only, not legal advice. Reviewed 26 August 2026 against the Australian Attorney-General’s Department legal assistance directory.