Finding a lawyer or legal adviser

Legal advisers can be found in community organisations, government funded services and in the private sector. Choosing between them depends on your needs and eligibility. The following websites explain more about the various services available.

Community Legal Centres (CLC)

These are independent community organisations providing free legal services to the public. They focus on helping clients who face economic and social disadvantage and who are ineligible for legal aid and cannot afford a private lawyer.

The Federation of Community Legal Centres (Victoria) Inc website contains details of over 50 law centres in Victoria.
www.communitylaw.org.au

Law Institute of Victoria (LIV)

The LIV has an online directory service and legal referral service to help locate lawyers in your area or practising a specific area of law. The LIV's phone and online Legal Referral Service provides free referrals to solicitors all over Victoria. 

All referrals are to LIV members who have agreed to see clients for up to the first 30 minutes free of charge. Normal fees will be charged after the first 30 minutes. Referrals are made according to practice area, geographic location, preferred language and other specific requirements.
www.liv.asn.au

Victoria Legal Aid (VLA)

VLA is a statutory authority that provides free legal services across Victoria and can provide initial legal information over the phone. It has lawyers on duty at many courts and tribunals to help people who do not have their own lawyer with court cases. VLA has lawyers in most major metropolitan and country regions of Victoria.

If you cannot afford a lawyer, you can apply to VLA for a grant of legal assistance to help you pay for a lawyer to run your case. VLA provides legal assistance in the areas of criminal law, family law and some civil law matters.
www.legalaid.vic.gov.au

Justice Connect

Justice Connect works with thousands of lawyers, including 50 NSW and Victoria law firms and hundreds of barristers. Justice Connect facilitates pro bono referrals, linking individuals experiencing disadvantage and the not-for-profit organisations who support them with pro bono lawyers in Victoria and NSW.

Justice Connect administers the LIV Legal Assistance Service, the Victorian Bar Pro Bono Scheme and the Justice Connect Members service (NSW and Victoria).
www.justiceconnect.org.au