Am I eligible?

Committed to client support, they ensure every client is matched with the right lawyer for their needs, providing exceptional service. Sam was appointed managing family dispute resolution practitioner in 2018. Part of her role is to oversee the supervision of our external family dispute canterbury family solicitors resolution practitioners on the chairperson panel. She is a former youth lawyer and independent children’s lawyer, with Family Relationship Centre dispute resolution experience and significant community sector management experience. Sam has also trained in facilitation, child inclusive mediation and counselling, and restorative practice.
It ensures that everyone, regardless of their financial circumstances, can obtain legal representation in family law matters such as custody disputes, divorce, and domestic violence cases. This guide explores the process of applying for legal aid, eligibility criteria, and practical tips to strengthen your application. Family dispute resolution practitioners are impartial and do not give legal advice, unless they are also lawyers or it is about procedure.

We can help you even if your ex-partner is getting help from another part of Legal Aid NSW. We can’t share the information you give us unless you tell us we can. We can work with your support worker to support you with your case and improve your safety.
We can help you gather the relevant documents you may need for the affidavit so that your divorce application runs smoothly. We help people facing particular kinds of serious legal issues, such as Child, Youth and Family or Work and Income matters, debt or credit problems, or criminal charges. Legal Aid Commissions can provide a grant of Legal Aid to an individual if their legal matter falls within the Commission’s guidelines and they live in the same state or territory. A grant of Legal Aid may be available for family law, criminal law and some civil law cases. You do not need to apply for a grant if you need one-off legal assistance. If you need one-off assistance, you can get free legal help without a grant through our duty services.

We also give legal help to people facing particular challenges, such as if you have trouble reading, or if you have a disability or mobility issues, or if you’re living with a mental illness. You can also find contact details for all lawyers on the New Zealand Law Society website(external link). Coming into a session is the fastest way to receive advice from us.
Services provided by Legal Aid and guidelines for approval vary depending on the state/territory. Contact Legal Aid in your state or territory for more information. If you do not know if you are eligible for a grant, we strongly recommend that you apply anyway. If you have trouble getting help because of a disability, language barriers, or your location, we will do our best to help you access our services. Anyone who is a victim of a crime committed in the ACT is eligible for some support or information from Victim Support ACT. Find out when our lawyers are in the Domestic Violence Unit at the Magistrates Court.
His adoptive parents were unable to have children, but not long after, they fell pregnant and had a baby girl. Nathan’s adoptive parents were not kind to him and his father often disciplined him  with physical violence. First Nations Australians are the most incarcerated people in the world, making up just three percent of our population, but 29 percent of the prison population.

Before filing an application for court proceedings, both parties are expected to have engaged in appropriate services and made efforts to resolve the dispute through other means. Parenting orders, including by consent, are legally binding and enforceable by the Court. Consent orders formalise agreements reached between parents, while parenting orders are issued by the Court when parents cannot agree. Our practitioners can assist you in negotiating agreements, applying for parenting orders, and preparing the necessary documentation to ensure your child’s best interests are prioritised. A binding child support agreement is more formal and restrictive.  It does require both parties to receive independent legal advice and is harder to change once in place.
They will ask about your problem and finances to work out if you can get legal aid. Jenny is in her late 30s, a First Nations mother of four children, who comes from regional NSW. Final care orders were issued for Jenny’s older children whilst she was in custody. At the time when she was referred to the Miranda Project, Jenny was 28 weeks pregnant with her 4th child. Ensuring client access to critical services, while advocating for the specific needs and perspectives of people in the criminal legal system. There are services available to help and support you through this time.