Civil law

Legal advice and assistance

Daily appointments for legal advice on a range of civil law matters are available in person and by telephone with lawyers from the Civil Law Division of our Perth office. 

Our regional offices may also be able to offer legal advice about some civil law matters. If you live in a regional area, you can contact your nearest Legal Aid WA office to see what help they can give with your problem.

 Elders Rights WA

We provide:

• free legal advice and assistance to older people who have experienced elder abuse or who are at risk of experiencing elder abuse
• representation in certain guardianship and administration matters in the State Administrative Tribunal
• mediation or dispute resolution of suitable matters, and
• information sessions and community legal education.

Download the fact sheet

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Appeals

This service provides legal advice, assistance, and representation for eligible NDIS Appeals. This may include assistance for individuals who have been declined access to the NDIS, or for NDIS participants who disagree with a decision made by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), such as the funded supports in their plan. Legal Aid WA may assist with NDIS external appeals to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). Referrals are welcome from any source.  

Work and Development Permit Service

Legal Aid WA’s Work and Development Permit Service matches disadvantaged people (or people experiencing hardship) with community sponsors to cut out court fines under a Work and Development Permit.

The Service provides:

• legal advice and practical information for people with unpaid fines who are experiencing hardship
• information, advice and referrals for clients who may have other legal issues that impact on their ability to pay their court fines – including domestic violence, unemployment, disability, debt and mortgage stress, guardianship and administration, and tenancy 
• information sessions and community legal education about the Work and Development Permit Scheme
• information for organisations interested in becoming approved sponsors under the Work and Development Permit Scheme, and
• assistance for approved sponsors providing unpaid work or other therapeutic activities for clients engaged with their organisation.

If you are a community not-for-profit organisation or agency; a medical or allied health professional or service; or an education, training or life-skills course provider, you may be interested in this service for your clients. 

If you want to know more about the service, please refer to the factsheets below. You can call our WDP Hotline on 08 9261 6353 or email wdpservice@legalaid.wa.gov.au

• Fact sheet: Work and Development Permit Service - for clients

• Fact sheet: Work and Development Permit Service - for sponsors

Mortgage Hardship Service

We provide free legal advice and step by step practical information and assistance if you:

• are having problems meeting repayments
• are behind in repayments
• have received a default notice, or
• have received a Supreme Court writ for property repossession.

Quick Answers Video: Mortgage Hardship Service

Download the fact sheet for this video

Administrative Appeals Tribunal service

Our lawyers provide legal advice to people who have some types of cases listed in the Administrative Review Tribunal. The focus of the service is to investigate and advise on the legal merit of the appeal in cases dealing with social security, migration, veterans matters and child support. Referrals for legal advice are made by contacting the ART Registry in Perth on (08) 9327 7200.

We may be able to provide some advice about visa matters in cases involving family violence or visa cancellation on character grounds.

The service does not provide duty lawyer representation in the tribunal hearing itself. If the lawyer believes that an appeal has suitable merit, a grant of aid for representation may be available.

Free legal support for veterans and ADF members

Free and confidential legal support is available to current and former Defence Force members.

We provide this assistance in collaboration with the Defence and Veterans Legal Service - a national initiative that supports people who have served.

That support can include information, general legal advice, preliminary assistance and guided referrals. 

The Defence and Veterans Legal Service is independent of all government agencies (including Defence, DVA and the ADF) and can assist with issues such as:

• veteran entitlements and compensation 
• employment law (including discrimination, harassment, unfair dismissal and the transition to civilian industries)
• redress for abuse in the Defence Force
• family violence and domestic violence orders
• consumer law (including issues relating to insurance, consumer credit and debt).

For more information, call the Defence and Veterans Legal Service on 1800 33 1800.

Federal Courts Self-Represented Litigants Service

This service assists unrepresented litigants appearing in the Federal Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court of Australia. Legal advice and legal help is provided in a range of matters including bankruptcy, employment and immigration appeals. Legal Aid WA may be able to investigate the merits of applying for judicial review if a person's application for a protection visa has been refused.

Your Story – Disability Legal Support Service

Your Story was set up to support people tell their story to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. This service closed on 28 June 2024.

Representation for civil matters

Grants of aid may be available to have a lawyer advise and represent clients about limited civil matters. 

Get help

To find out what help we can give with civil law matters, call the Infoline or contact your nearest Legal Aid WA office.

Enquiries about the Federal Courts Self-Represented Litigants Service can also be made through the Infoline.

Reviewed: 8 July 2024