“Legal aid” refers to free or low-cost legal services that help people resolve their legal problems. In Victoria, this includes services such as:
• legal information;
• legal advice;
• ongoing legal help;
• legal representation (e.g. in court).
Who provides legal aid?
The agencies that provide legal aid services can be grouped as follows:
• Victoria Legal Aid;
• community legal centres (e.g. Fitzroy Legal Service);
• specialist community legal centres that focus on particular legal areas (e.g. the Mental Health Legal Centre, Environmental Justice Australia);
• specialist community legal centres that help particular groups (e.g. the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Women’s Legal Service, Youthlaw);
• private law firms offering free legal advice and assistance (through grants of legal assistance or by referral from Justice Connect or the Law Institute of Victoria);
• a range of other organisations.
A list of agencies that provide legal services can be found in Legal services that can help.