Apply for free legal help
Our team work to connect you with free legal advice and referrals for individuals, small business owners, and primary producers who have been impacted by a disaster.
Once you’ve made an application and we’ve checked your eligibility, we will work to understand your situation, and match you with a lawyer in our network who can help you for free.
If your not-for-profit organisation has been impacted by a disaster, visit our Disaster Legal Toolkit from Not-for-profit Law.
Am I eligible?
We can provide free legal assistance in legal issues that commonly arise after a disaster, including:
- Contracts or agreements
- Utility bill disputes (like gas, electricity, and water)
- Leases and property
- Fencing or other negotiations with neighbours
- Insurance coverage and claims
- Credit and debt
- Employment
If you have been impacted by a disaster, we may be able to help you if:
- You are dealing with a legal problem because of, or made worse by a disaster
- You would struggle to pay for legal help
If you are a small business owner, we may be able to help if your business has 20 employees or less.
We also take into account your financial means and any special circumstances when deciding if we’re able to assist you.
If you’re not sure, you can apply for help online, and we’ll ask you a few questions to check your eligibility for a Justice Connect service.
How we can help people impacted by disasters
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 people impacted by disasters
Ask a lawyer a question
If you have a specific, non-urgent legal question about your situation, you can ask a lawyer for free using Justice Connect Answers.
10 mins
Online legal clinic
Get ePrepared
Learn how to create electronic copies of your essential documents, in case you need them in a disaster.
10 mins
Disaster preparedness
Free self-help resources for people impacted by disasters
Where else to get help
Select your state to find other places to get legal support near you.
