Legal services and support
If you need to understand Children's Court, get legal advice, or find a lawyer, contact one of these free services:
State-wide free legal assistance
Aboriginal Legal Service
1800 733 233
Intellectual Disability Rights Service
Free call 1800 666 611 or 02 9318 0144
Legal Aid - Early Intervention Unit
1800 551 589
Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre
1800 686 587 or 02 9569 3847
Women’s Legal Service NSW
1800 801 501 or 02 8745 6988
Indigenous Women’s Legal Contact Line
1800 639 784 or 02 8745 6977
Care and Protection Advice Line
02 8745 6908
Salvos Legal Advice Bureau
02 8202 1500
Otherwise you can call LawAccess NSW for information and referrals on 1300 888 529 and they can direct you to a free legal service in your area.
Legal help for children and young people
There is free legal aid for children and young people. See what services and supports are available.
Community legal centres
There are local community legal centres in most FACS districts. There are also local Family Violence Prevention Legal Services in some FACS districts.
| DCJ District | DCJ offices | Community Legal Centre or Family Violence Prevention Legal Service |
|---|---|---|
| Central Coast | Gosford, Lakes, Peninsula, Wyong | Central Coast Community Legal Centre 02 4353 4988 |
| Far West | Broken Hill, Dareton, Wilcannia | Far West Community Legal Centre 08 8088 2020 or 1800 300 036 Warra Warra Legal Service 08 8087 6766 |
| Hunter New England | Armidale, Cessnock, Charlestown, Edgeworth, Glen Innes, Inverell, Maitland, Mayfield, Moree, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Raymond Terrace, Tamworth | North and North West Community Legal Service (toll free) 1800 687 687 Hunter Community Legal Centre 02 4040 9120 |
| Illawarra Shoalhaven | Nowra, Ulladulla | Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre 02 4422 9529 or (toll free) 1800 229 529 |
| Illawarra Shoalhaven | Shellharbour, Wollongong | Illawarra Legal Centre, Warrawong 133 677 or 02 4276 1939 |
| Mid North Coast | Kempsey, Port Macquarie | Many Rivers Family Violence Prevention Legal Service 02 6562 5856 Mid North Coast Community Legal Centre 02 6580 2111 |
| Mid North Coast | Coffs Harbour | Mid North Coast Community Legal Centre 02 6580 2111 |
| Murrumbidgee | Albury, Cootamundra, Deniliquin, Griffith, Leeton, Tumut, Wagga Wagga | Hume Riverina Community Legal Service 1800 918 377 |
| Murrumbidgee | Griffith | Binaal Billa Family Violence Prevention Legal Service (covers Lake Cargelligo/Murrin Bridge) 1800 700 218 or 02 6850 1234 |
| Nepean Blue Mountains | Blue Mountains, Lithgow, | Elizabeth Evatt Community Legal Centre 02 4704 0207 or 1300 363 967 |
| Nepean Blue Mountains | Hawkesbury, Penrith, St Marys | Western Sydney Community Legal Centre 02 9675 2009 |
| Northern NSW | Ballina, Clarence Valley, Lismore, Tweed Heads | Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre 02 6621 1000 |
| Northern NSW | Taree | Many Rivers Family Violence Prevention Legal Service 02 6562 5856 Mid North Coast Community Legal Centre 02 6580 2111 |
| Northern Sydney | Chatswood | Inner City Legal Centre 02 9332 1966 |
| Northern Sydney | Pennant Hills | Western Sydney Community Legal Centre 02 9675 2009 |
| South Eastern Sydney | Redfern | Inner City Legal Centre 02 9332 1966 Redfern Legal Centre |
| South Eastern Sydney | St George, Sutherland | Marrickville Legal Centre 02 9559 2899 |
| South Western Sydney | Bowral, Campbelltown, Ingleburn | Macarthur Legal Centre 02 4628 2042 |
| South Western Sydney | Bankstown, Fairfield, Liverpool | South West Sydney Legal Centre 02 9601 7777 |
| Southern NSW | Batemans Bay, Bega, Cooma, Goulburn, Queanbeyan, Yass | Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre 02 4422 9529 or (toll free) 1800 229 529 |
| Southern NSW | Goulburn, Queanbeyan, Yass | Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre 02 4422 9529 or (toll free) 1800 229 529 |
| Sydney | Burwood, Lakemba | South West Sydney Legal Centre 02 9601 7777 |
| Sydney | Central Sydney | Inner City Legal Centre 02 9332 1966 Redfern Legal Centre 02 9698 7277 |
| Western NSW | Bathurst | Elizabeth Evatt Community Legal Centre 02 4782 4155 or 1300 363 967 |
| Western NSW | Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Dubbo, Mudgee, Nyngan, Parkes, Walgett | Western NSW Community Legal Centre 02 6884 9422 or (toll free) 1800 655 927 |
| Western NSW | Parkes | Binaal Billa Family Violence Prevention Legal Service (covers Forbes & Peak Hill) 1800 700 218 or 02 6850 1234 |
| Western NSW | Condobolin, Cowra, Orange | Western NSW Community Legal Centre 02 6884 9422 or (toll free) 1800 655 927 |
| Western Sydney | Auburn, Blacktown, Parramatta, Mt Druitt, | Western Sydney Community Legal Centre 02 9675 2009 or 02 8833 0911 |