Other Options
If you have tried Legal Aid, your Community Legal Centre, and any applicable pro bono referral scheme, and still need advice or representation, you may still be able to get assistance from:
Individuals seeking pro bono representation in a court proceeding are encouraged to contact the Registrar or Clerk of the relevant Court directly to find out what court-based referral schemes may exist.
Here are links to information about some court pro bono referral schemes:
See State Directories for further information.
Litigants without representation (often referred to as self-represented litigants) may be able to get legal assistance from:
- a community legal centre
- a duty solicitor or barrister, or
- a self-represented litigant scheme (Queensland only).
Revisiting a Community Legal Centre
Even if a community legal centre cannot provide you with representation, you may be able to get assistance preparing documents such as a letters of demand, statements of claim or a defence to legal proceedings. For your closest centre, see the National Association of Community Legal Centres directory.
Duty solicitor/ barrister schemes
Some courts in Australia have duty solicitor and barrister schemes to help people that can't obtain representation. If there is a duty solicitor or barrister scheme in your court you may be able to obtain some assistance on the day. Extended representation is generally not provided.
The service provided by duty solicitors and barristers is generally limited to procedural information, although this will vary from Court to Court and from time to time.
The following Courts may have a duty solicitor or barrister available to assist litigants in preparing for a hearing:
- Commonwealth: Administrative Appeals Tribunal (Cth)
- In the ACT: Family Court
- In NSW: Children's Court, District Court , Local Court, Industrial Relations Commission of NSW, Family Court
- In the Northern Territory: Federal Magistrates Court
- In Queensland: Family Court (Brisbane and Rockhampton)
- In South Australia: Family Court (Adelaide Registry), Federal Magistrates Court (for bail applications), Administrative Appeals Tribunal
- In Tasmania: Family Court (Hobart), Federal Magistrates Court, Supreme Court
- In Victoria: Family Court (Melbourne and Dandenong Registries), Magistrates Court of Victoria
- In Western Australia: Federal Magistrates Court, Family Court
Other schemes for litigants without representation
In Queensland, QPILCH also provides two services for self-represented litigants:
NB: This is not intended as a comprehensive guide. You should check with the Registrar or Clerk of the particular Courthouse in which your matter is listed to see whether they provide support to unrepresented litigants.
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