Apply for free legal help
Our team of lawyers work to provide free legal information, advice, and referrals to people representing themselves in some courts or tribunals in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and Tasmania.
Once you’ve made an application and we’ve checked your eligibility, we will book you into a one-hour clinic appointment with a lawyer.
Appointments are usually by phone, but can also be arranged in person. At your clinic appointment, our lawyers will provide advice in preparation for court, but we don’t provide ongoing legal representation.
Appointments may include:
- Legal advice about the issue at court
- Assistance in preparing documents, including correspondence and court forms
- Advice about other options to resolve the issue
- Information about court orders and procedures
If we think you need additional support throughout your case, we may offer more than one appointment.
Am I eligible?
If you are representing yourself in court, you may be eligible for our help depending on where your case is being heard, and what your case is about.
If you are representing yourself in the Federal Court or Federal Circuit or Family Court, you may be eligible if your matter is about:
- Bankruptcy
- Employment law
- Human rights
If you are representing yourself in the County Court or Supreme Court in Victoria, you may be eligible if your matter is about:
- Appeals from VCAT and lower courts
- Civil and commercial matters
If you are representing yourself at the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal, you may be eligible if your matter is about:
When you apply for help online, we’ll ask you a few questions to check your eligibility and help match you with the right Justice Connect service.
How we can help self-represented litigants
Information
Clear, easy-to-understand explanations about the law and your legal rights and options.
Advice
Personalised guidance on what the law means for you and what steps you can take.
Referrals
Connecting you to pro bono lawyers in our network to provide ongoing help for free.
Free self-help tools for self-represented litigants
Ask a lawyer a question
If you have a specific, non-urgent legal question about representing yourself in court, you can ask a lawyer for free using Justice Connect Answers.
10 mins
Online legal clinic
Free self-help resources for self-represented litigants
Where else to get help
Select your state to find other places to get legal support near you.
