Free legal advice providers

If you cannot afford a lawyer, there are people who may be able to give you legal assistance at no cost.

Free legal advice providers may give you legal advice and support and answer your questions about:

  • your prospects of success
  • other options to taking legal action
  • what to expect and the process at ACAT
  • what you will be required to do and prove
  • when you need to start your case (applicable timeframes).

Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) 

Provides legal advice and representation for indigenous people in Canberra and the surrounding region.

See the Aboriginal Legal Service website for more information and contact details.

ACT Pro Bono Clearing House (ACT Law Society) 

Provides a legal referral service connecting eligible applicants with private law firms and barristers for free legal assistance.

See their ACT Law Society website for contact details.

Canberra Community Law 

Provides legal services to people on low incomes or facing other disadvantage in Canberra and the region. The legal services they provide relate to:

  • Housing Law
  • Street Law
  • Night Time Legal Advice Service
  • Dhurrawang Aboriginal Human Rights Program
  • Disability Discrimination Law
  • Social Security Law
  • Socio-Legal Practice.

See the Canberra Community Law website for more information and contact details.

Consumer Law Centre (CLC) 

Provides free legal assistance and advice to low to moderate income consumers, primarily in the areas of consumer law, consumer credit, telecommunications and utilities, bankruptcy as well as general fair trading consumer protection.

The CLC has a Consumer Law Clinic [PDF 827KB] that gives legal advice and provides assistance to those affected by debts which are being enforced, or at risk of being enforced in court.

The Consumer Law Centre also provides the free defined benefits information service for the ACT's motor accident injury scheme.

See the Consumer Law Centre website for more information and contact details.

Environmental Defenders Office 

Provides free legal advice and representation on environmental law issues.

You can book an appointment on the  Environmental Defenders website.

Legal Aid ACT 

Provides advice on a range of different legal problems, such as debt, discrimination, residential tenancies (rental properties), elder abuse, guardianship, mental health, neighbourhood disputes and small business matters.

You can get free one-off legal advice (for 30 minutes) regardless of your income or assets. Further assistance is means and merits tested.

See the Legal Aid ACT website for more information and contact details.

Legal Aid also run the tenancy advice service ACT.

They also have a Youth Law Centre (for persons aged between 12 and 25 years) and a Community Liaison Unit, which includes:

  • Aboriginal Liaison Officers
  • Cultural Liaison Officers
  • Family Violence Officer
  • Migration Clinic.

The Women’s Legal Centre ACT

Provides free legal advice and representation to eligible individuals who identify as a woman, trans or non-binary.

The Centre can help with sexual harassment and discrimination in employment as well as contexts outside of work. A social work team is available to support women who need extra assistance during their legal process.

The Centre also provides legal and cultural support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women through the Mulleun Mura Access to Justice Program, which is led and staffed by Aboriginal women.

See the Women's Legal Centre website for more information and contact details.

Youth Law Australia

Youth Law Australia is a national community legal service, who provide free legal advice and information to children, young people under the age of 25 and their advocates.

They have recently launched their Young Workers' Rights Service which is an employment law service for children and young people in the ACT, which provides free casework and representation.

See the Youth Law Australia website for more information and contact details.

More options

Find out more about duty lawyer services at ACAT.

If you are looking for private legal practitioners and firms in Canberra you can use the 'find a firm' search on the ACT Law Society's website.

If you decide to represent yourself, the Environmental Defenders Office has a guide to legal research in the ACT.

For more information about the law, see the ACT Law Handbook.

Glossary and terms

Glossary and terms

ACT Civil and Administrative TribunalA tribunal established under the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008. It may also be referred to as ACAT or Tribunal.

Adjourn (or adjournment)To suspend or postpone a preliminary conference, mediation or hearing and reschedule it for a future date.

Administrative reviewACAT has jurisdiction to review some administrative decisions made by the ACT Government. Find out about Review of ACT Government decisions.

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)Also known as dispute resolution. This is a way of resolving disputes without a formal hearing. It may involve a preliminary conference or mediation. ADR is used to help parties resolve cases by agreement.

AnorMeans ‘and another’. This term is generally used to name parties to proceedings when there is more than one applicant or respondent.

Appeal TribunalA tribunal constituted under section 81 of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal 2008 to review a decision of the tribunal (not all ACAT decisions are appealable at ACAT – you may need to go to the Supreme Court).

AppellantThe individual or company that appeals an ACAT decision.

ApplicantThe individual or company that brings a case to ACAT, usually by making an application.

Authorising lawsA law that says an application (including referrals) may be made to ACAT. An authorising law may also set out the powers ACAT has in a case. Also see ‘jurisdiction’.

Calling a witnessA party or their representative will ‘call a witness’ at an ACAT hearing when they ask a witness to give evidence.

CaseAlso known as a matter, dispute, application or referral. Cases come to ACAT when ACAT has jurisdiction (power) to make a decision.

Cross-examinationThe process of asking a witness questions to test or check the evidence that the witness has given to ACAT.

DecisionWhat the tribunal decides or determines about an issue or a dispute. The tribunal may sometimes explain why in a statement of reasons.

Defined benefitsare the following benefits (see section 33 of the MAI Act):

  1. income replacement benefits;
  2. treatment and care benefits;
  3. quality of life benefits;
  4. death benefits;
  5. funeral benefits.

Deliver a decisionAlso ‘handing down a decision’. This is giving a decision about an ACAT case. It may be done verbally or in writing (or both).

DirectionsInstructions that set out what each party must do (and when), often to prepare a case for hearing.

Directions hearingA short hearing where an ACAT Member or Registrar decides how to manage a case and what needs to be done before a hearing. Find out about directions hearings.

Ex parte orderAn order made by ACAT where one or more parties were not present.

Expert reportA written report from an expert that may be used as evidence.

Expert witnessA person with specialised knowledge based on their training, study or experience. An expert can give evidence at a hearing. Find out more about witness statements.

Final directions hearingSometimes ACAT will hold a final directions hearing prior to the final hearing of an application. The purpose is to make sure the case is ready to go to a hearing and give the parties a chance to ask questions about the hearing process.

GuardianA guardian is a person ACAT appoints to make personal decisions, about health, welfare and where a person lives, for a person who has impaired decision-making ability (the ‘protected person’).

Handed upGiving documents to an ACAT Member or Registrar in a hearing.

In chambersWhen ACAT considers something without holding a hearing.

Joined party (joined/joinder)A party who was not originally a party to the dispute but has later been added to the case.

JurisdictionACAT’s authority (power) to deal with, hear and decide applications (cases).

LeaveIf someone asks for leave, they are usually asking for permission to do something.

List (or listing)A schedule (or list) of cases to be heard at ACAT each day.

Listing noticeA letter or written document from ACAT that sets out when a conference, mediation or hearing is scheduled at ACAT.

ManagerA manager is a person ACAT appoints to make decisions, about property and money, for a person with impaired decision-making ability (the ‘protected person’).

MAI ActMotor Accident Injuries Act 2019 (ACT).

MediationA private meeting where parties discuss ways to resolve their dispute, with the help of an impartial mediator (who is also an ACAT Member or Registrar). It is held under section 35 of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008.

Non-publication and/or non-disclosure orderAlso called a ‘suppression order’. It is an order that requires certain information not to be published or disclosed. It is made under section 39 of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008. Find out about public hearings and confidentiality.

Notice to partiesA letter sent to the parties in a case that sets out the time, date and location for an ACAT conference, mediation or hearing.

Opening statementUsually means a statement made at the beginning of a hearing to outline the key points in the case. Sometimes parties are asked to give an opening statement at a mediation or preliminary conference.

OrderA direction or instruction of the tribunal that a person do a certain thing. The tribunal can make different types of orders depending on the case type and the tribunal’s powers in a case or dispute.

Originating applicationAn application that starts an ACAT case.

Party or partiesAn individual or company directly involved in an ACAT case, for example an applicant or respondent. Find out how to identify and name parties.

Preliminary conferenceA private meeting where parties discuss ways to resolve their dispute with the help of an ACAT Member or Registrar. See section 33 of the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008. ACAT has different types of preliminary conferences.

Protected personA person who has impaired decision-making ability and about whom an application to ACAT may be made seeking orders under the Guardianship and Management of Property Act 1991 or the Power of Attorney Act 2006.

RegistryThe administrative section of ACAT that accepts documents lodged by parties, handles enquiries and provides support for case management.

Relevant insurerfor a motor accident, means the insurer under the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2019 (see section 34) of the motor vehicle considered to be at fault for the motor accident in the ACT.

RepresentativeA person who represents or advocates for an individual or company at a conference, mediation or hearing at ACAT. For example, a legal practitioner or an attorney appointed under a general power of attorney.

Reserved decisionWhen an ACAT Member or Registrar reserves a decision (at the end of a hearing), this means they will give their decision later, either verbally or in writing (sometimes both).

RespondentThe party (or parties) against whom orders or relief is sought.

Serve/serviceA person who can give evidence at a hearing. Find out about witness statements.

Short service orderAn order that authorises a shorter time for service (than the time otherwise required).

Significant occupational impact (SOI)Significant impact on an injured person’s ability to undertake employment.

Statement of reasonsA document that explains why ACAT made an order in a case. It sets out the law relied on by an ACAT Member or Registrar and explains how the law was applied to the facts of the case. You can request a written statement of reasons within 14 days after an order is made. Find out about statement of reasons.

StayAn order for a particular action (or decision) to be put on hold or suspended for a period of time.

SubmissionA document that sets out your side of a case or dispute and the relevant law. It is presented to ACAT either in writing, verbally or both. Find out about submissions.

SubpoenaRequires a person to appear at ACAT to give evidence or provide documents (or both). Find out about subpoenas.

Substituted service orderAn order that says how a party is to be served with an application or other documents related to the proceedings. In a civil dispute or a rental dispute, an applicant will need to consider asking for a substituted service order if they do not have a physical address for the respondent. Find out about lodging and serving documents.

WitnessA person who can give evidence at a hearing. Find out about witness statements.